LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Parliamentary Questions

Llew Smith: To ask the Leader of the House if he will take steps to ensure that the texts of ministerial letters sent to hon. Members in respect of written answers are printed in the Official Report.

Peter Hain: I have recently written to the Speaker assuring him that, following representations from hon. Members, my office is actively engaged with the House authorities and departments in exploring how we can best reduce the number of "will write" answers and make any subsequent ministerial letters more accessible.

TRANSPORT

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary Question for Ordinary Written Answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a Question was.

Tony McNulty: In the Session 2002–03, the Department for Transport received 2,785 parliamentary questions for Ordinary Written Answer, of which 2,522 (91 per cent.) were answered on time. Records on average processing times for parliamentary questions are not collected and to compile such data would incur disproportionate cost. The greatest number of days taken to answer an Ordinary Written Question was 44 sitting days.

Speed Cameras

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the relative effectiveness of (a) inconspicuous speed cameras accompanied by high-profile advertising and road signs and (b) single brightly-coloured speed cameras.

David Jamieson: holding answer 10 February 2004
	The objective of the safety camera programme is to reduce injuries and crashes by deterring excessive speed at places with a history of speed related accidents. Visible cameras, clearly signed, help achieve this. Drivers can also obtain information on the location of cameras from local safety camera partnerships' websites.

Speed Cameras

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much money raised in fines from speed cameras during the last year for which records are available was spent in (a) West Sussex and (b) the East Worthing and Shoreham constituency.

David Jamieson: Information on all the "Safety Camera Partnerships" expenditure for the financial year 2002–03 is being prepared and will be published shortly. This was the first year in which the West Sussex Safety Camera Partnership was operating.
	We do not hold statistical revenue information broken down by parliamentary constituency areas. The hon. Member may wish to contact the West Sussex safety camera partnership for more detailed information.

Speed Limits

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes to (a) emission levels, (b) fuel consumption, (c) accident rates and (d) severity of accidents he estimates would result from an increase in the motorway speed limit to 80mph.

David Jamieson: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Although no detailed estimates are available for such an increase, there is evidence to indicate that emission levels, fuel consumption, accident rates and severity of accidents would all rise.

Road Resurfacing

Theresa May: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what percentage of the trunk road network has been (a) re-surfaced and (b) re-surfaced with lower noise surfacing in each of the last three years.

Alistair Darling: Government policy is to encourage the implementation of technologies that reduce the noise arising from road traffic wherever these are cost effective and do not have adverse consequences on safety. Categorisation of sites for low noise surfacing is primarily based on maintenance need. In addition, we have criteria for categorisation for noise reduction of roads with concrete surfaces. We announced these criteria on 17 October 2001; they are:
	1. that wherever possible the application of quieter surfaces will fit in with normal maintenance needs;
	2. that priority will be given to those sites where treatment would benefit the greatest number of people;
	3. that the works will be carried out in such a way as to minimise disruption to general public and users of the network;
	4. that priority will be given to roads, opened since June 1988, where actual noise levels have turned out to be significantly higher than predicted at the time of Public Inquiry.
	Priority is given to road surfaces that are deteriorating and to locations where road safety is an issue. Where the resurfacing is specifically for noise reduction purposes priority will be given to those cases in which the actual noise levels exceed those predicted by at least three decibels, or where more than 100 properties per kilometre are affected by excess noise.
	During 2000–01 4.3 per cent. of the Highways Agency's core network was resurfaced including 3.5 per cent. with quieter surfacing. During 2001–02 the figures were 4.2 per cent. and 3.8 per cent. respectively, and in 2002–03 5.5 per cent. and 5.0 per cent. respectively. In the current year, 2003–04, the Highways Agency estimate these figures will be 5.0 per cent. and 4.6 per cent. respectively.

Vehicle Insurance/Taxation

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures his Department is taking to reduce the number of motor vehicles on the roads (a) without insurance and (b) without road taxation.

David Jamieson: The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving,. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.
	We have considerably tightened the enforcement of Vehicle Excise Duty through the "continuous registration" package of measures. By introducing continuous registration and using modern technology, we are improving the accuracy of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's vehicle register to the benefit of law enforcement and the honest motorist. To deal with short term Vehicle Excise Duty evasion, we have introduced fines for those over a month overdue with relicensing their vehicle. We are tackling those vehicles already outside the system of registration and licensing with enhanced enforcement using wheel clamping and ANPR cameras. By enhancing the quality of the vehicle register these measures are intended to assist the police in the fight against crime, and to assist local authorities in tracking down and enforcing costs against those who abandon vehicles.

Vehicle Insurance/Taxation

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what measures he plans to take to reduce the number of uninsured drivers.

David Jamieson: The Department is determined to take effective action to tackle the problem of uninsured driving. To that end, we commissioned last August an independent review of motor insurance with uninsured driving as a key consideration. The reviewer, Professor David Greenaway of Nottingham University, is expected to report in April. We shall take a keen interest in his recommendations, with a view to taking appropriate action as soon as practicable.

WALES

Structural Funding

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the Treasury on matching the funds of Objective 1 payments.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with the Treasury on a wide range of subjects.

Crime

Betty Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has received about the crime figures in North Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I regularly discuss crime figures with various interested parties.
	Recently, we have received correspondence from the Chief Constable of North Wales, clarifying the impact of important changes in the reporting of crime, and pointing out that the British Crime Survey's latest findings show that crime in England and Wales as a whole has gone down by 25 per cent. since 1997.

NHS Funding

Nicholas Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the National Assembly for Wales Government on the funding of the NHS in Wales.

Don Touhig: I regularly meet the Assembly Health Minister to discuss the NHS and health provision in Wales including funding.

Renewable Energy

Ian Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to provide fiscal incentives to support the manufacture of renewable energy products in Wales.

Peter Hain: The Government attaches great importance to the renewable energy industry and will continue to support the development of all forms of alternative energy producing technology as outlined in our Energy White Paper.

Prisoners

Andrew Robathan: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many Welsh residents are in English prisons.

Don Touhig: Information on a prisoner's place of residence prior to sentence or remand in custody is not held centrally.
	At 30 November 2003, there were 1,580 prisoners in English prisons who had been committed or sentenced by courts in Wales.

Toxic Waste

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what assessment he has made of the transfer of toxic waste from Wales to England.

Don Touhig: I understand that the Assembly intends to consult later this year upon amendments to the existing legislation controlling the movement of hazardous wastes.

Cockle Regulation

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what recent discussions he has had with the First Secretary regarding the Dee Cockle Regulation Order.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend has regular meetings with the First Secretary and I meet the Assembly Secretary for Environment, Planning and Countryside to discuss a variety of issues, including the Welsh cockle industry.

Antisocial Behaviour

Huw Irranca-Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has had with the Home Office on the use of legislation to tackle anti-social behaviour in Wales.

Don Touhig: My right hon. Friend and I have regular discussions with Ministerial colleagues about matters affecting Wales.
	Last October, the Government published its "Tackling Anti-Social Behaviour Action Plan", setting out priority areas for reducing anti-social behaviour over the next two or three years. Key areas for intervention include: nuisance neighbours, environmental crime and begging.

Flooding

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what discussions he has held with the First Secretary of the National Assembly for Wales on flooding in Wales.

Peter Hain: I have regular discussions with Assembly Ministers about issues affecting Wales. It is for flood and coastal defence authorities to bring forward proposals to improve flood defences where required. The Assembly offers financial assistance towards the cost of these works via grant schemes On 6 February, I visited homes in Ynysmeudwy and Pontardawe which were affected by a flash flood and saw, at first hand, the effects of flooding on families.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Don Touhig: None.

PRIME MINISTER

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister what (a) opinion polling and (b) market research projects have been carried out by the Government on the issue of military action against Iraq since 2001, broken down by financial year; what the (i) title and (ii) nature of these projects were; how much each of these projects cost; what the findings of each project were; where the findings have been published; and if he will make a statement.

Ivor Caplin: I have been asked to reply.
	No opinion polling or market research projects have been centrally commissioned by the Ministry of Defence specifically on the issue of military action against Iraq. However, we commission surveys of public perceptions of the Ministry of Defence, the armed forces and their equipment. As part of this work we monitor the impact of recent operations.
	I am withholding information on the costs of these surveys under Exemption 13 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information (commercial confidences).

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of whether Iraq could launch a chemical, biological or nuclear attack against the UK mainland before publication of the September 2002 dossier; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he has made of whether Iraq had considered using chemical or biological agents in terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he made before military action was taken against Iraq, of Iraq's ability to produce chemical and biological weapons while the UN inspection team was in Iraq; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave to the hon. Member for Worthing West (Mr. Bottomley) in my statement on 24 September 2002, Official Report, column 23 and to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), at Prime Minister's Questions on 4 June 2003, Official Report, columns 155–156 and in a written answer on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 234W.

Iraq

Norman Lamb: To ask the Prime Minister 
	(1)  what assessment he made of whether Iraq (a) had provided chemical and biological weapons to al-Qaeda and (b) intended to conduct chemical and biological terrorist attacks before military action was taken against Iraq; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what assessment he made of the effect of regime collapse in Iraq on the risk of transfer of chemical and biological weapons materials to terrorists; and if he will make a statement;
	(3)  what assessment he made of the effect of military action against Iraq on the threat posed by al-Qaeda before taking such action; and if he will make a statement.

Tony Blair: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Linlithgow (Mr. Dalyell), on 15 October 2003, Official Report, column 234W.

DEFENCE

Iraq

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many British Service personnel (a) have committed suicide in Iraq or since returning to the UK from Iraq and (b) have been returned to the UK from Iraq early because of mental stress.

Ivor Caplin: pursuant to his reply, 12 February 2004, Official Report, c.1636W
	Further information has come to my attention. The corrected answer to the question is:
	During the period 10 January 2003 to 20 December 2003 no member of British service personnel committed suicide in Iraq. Among Service personnel who have since returned to the United Kingdom from Iraq; two have since died and been recorded by a coroner with a suicide or open verdict. An additional five cases have been referred to a coroner for a verdict but the inquests have not yet been heard. There is no change to part (b).

Operation Telic

Llew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will investigate the concerns expressed by Justin Bowen, a Royal Army Medical Corps Private, and Vicky Bowen, a member of the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps, that their son, Scott, has suffered from Gulf War Syndrome symptoms after both parents served in Operation Telic in the Gulf.

Ivor Caplin: I am unable to comment on individual cases for reasons of medical confidentiality. However, the Ministry of Defence takes the health concerns of Service and former Service personnel very seriously. I therefore urge any personnel who served on Op TELIC who have concerns about health matters to consult their Service medical officer or general practitioner, who will investigate thoroughly. Service and ex-Service personnel are also entitled to be seen at the Gulf Veterans' Medical Assessment Programme (GVMAP) on referral from their doctor. The GVMAP provides as full a diagnosis as possible to veterans, assesses patients and recommends treatment.
	The arrangements for dealing with individual health concerns are complemented by a comprehensive package of research into the health of those returning from Op TELIC, announced on 7 May 2003, Official Report, column 34WS. Scoping studies have been completed and, in March, a questionnaire will be issued to some 7,000 Op TELIC veterans to seek data on health status and exposures.

Recruitment Advertising

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department's expenditure on recruitment advertising was in each of the last three years, broken down by publication; and what proportion of such expenditure was (a) to advertise vacant posts and (b) in the form of other general recruitment advertising.

Ivor Caplin: This information is not held centrally and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Service Medals

Hugh Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will reassess the eligibility criteria for the award of gallantry medals in relation to operations in Iraq.

Ivor Caplin: holding answer 15 December 2003
	The eligibility criteria for the award of gallantry medals are a matter for the Committee on the Grant of Honours, Decorations and Medals. The Committee advises Her Majesty the Queen on all matters to do with honours and awards. The Committee has not been asked to consider any changes to the eligibility criteria.

TREASURY

European Council of Finance Ministers

Jimmy Hood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the outcome was of the ECOFIN Council held on 10 February; what the Government's stance was on the issues discussed, including its voting record; and if he will make a statement.

Gordon Brown: I attended ECOFIN on 10 February.
	ECOFIN discussed preparation for the Spring Council on 25–26 March. There was broad agreement that further action was needed to reduce the European regulatory burden, promote investment and innovation and improve European labour market flexibility. ECOFIN therefore mandated the Economic Policy Committee (EPC) and the Economic and Financial Committee (EFC) to produce a key issues paper for the spring European Council for adoption at the 9 March ECOFIN.
	It was agreed that the next ECOFIN would start with a breakfast discussion of the four Presidencies regulatory reform initiative. I presented the Government's White Paper on the European Economic Reform 1 , stressing that while important reforms had been undertaken, a lot of work remained to be done. ECOFIN also adopted conclusions on the Broad Economic Policy Guidelines Implementation Report and endorsed the EPC report on structural reform.
	On the Savings Tax Directive, the Commission reported on the progress of its negotiations with Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, San Marino and Switzerland. ECOFIN unanimously supported the Commission's negotiating position and agreed not to accept any further counter-requests. The Council also unanimously agreed that the agreement negotiated with Switzerland should be concluded without further delay.
	No votes were taken at the meeting.
	1 HM Treasury, "Advancing long-term prosperity: Economic reform in enlarged Europe". Published February 2004.

Financial Instruments

Bill Tynan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Government's policy on its use of derivatives and related financial instruments.

Ruth Kelly: The Government uses derivatives to manage interest rate and foreign exchange risk associated with some of its activities. These instruments may include equity swaps, FRAs, exchange rate forwards, currency and interest rate swaps, as well as interest rate futures. The Government does not use these instruments to speculate in the financial markets.

Tax Credits

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people (a) have taken-up and (b) are entitled to tax credit in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley.

Dawn Primarolo: The estimated number of families receiving the Child and/or Working Tax Credits in (i) the North West, (ii) Lancashire and (iii) Chorley at 5 January 2004 is shown in "Child and Working Tax Credit Statistics, Geographical analyses—January 2004", which is on the Inland Revenue website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/stats/personal-tax-credits/menu.htm. The estimates are based on a sample of cases, and are subject to sampling uncertainty.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Abandoned Vehicles

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many abandoned vehicles have been recovered in South Yorkshire in each of the last three years.

Elliot Morley: The information requested for the local authorities in South Yorkshire is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number of abandoned vehicles collected in thefinancial year 
			 Local authority 2000–01 2001–02 
		
		
			 Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council 248 549 
			 Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council 410 1,313 
			 Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council 150 410 
			 Sheffield City Council 100 1,421 
			 Total 908 3,693 
		
	
	Information on the number of vehicles abandoned was collected for the first time in the 2000–01 Municipal Waste Management Survey. 2001–02 is the most recent year for which data is available from the survey.

Air Pollution

Dominic Grieve: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what aircraft pollution monitoring arrangements are in place in the vicinity of Heathrow airport; and who operates each site.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 11 February 2004
	The following three air quality monitoring stations in the vicinity of Heathrow airport are part of Defra's Automatic Air Quality Urban and Rural Monitoring Network (AURN):
	London Hillingdon is owned by Defra and has operated since July 1996. It is in a suburban location (Grid Reference: TQ 069786) and monitors ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide and particulate matter (PM10).
	Brentford Roadside is owned by the London borough of Hounslow and has operated since June 2003. It is in an urban roadside location (Grid Reference: TQ 175781) and monitors oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide. (During the period 1997–02, this site operated a short distance from its present location and was named Hounslow Roadside.)
	Harlington is owned by BAA and has operated since April 2003. It is in an urban background location (Grid Reference: TQ 083778) and monitors ozone, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and PM10.
	These stations measure pollution arising from all sources not just aircraft and provide information on the overall pollutant concentrations to which residents in the area are exposed. Data from all three of these stations are quality assured to national standards.
	Further information on these stations, data summaries and hour-by-hour pollutant concentrations can be found at www.airquality.co.uk (the site at Harlington is in the process of being incorporated into this system).
	In addition, BAA and local authorities in the vicinity of Heathrow airport operate the following air quality monitoring stations at: Slough Town Hall; Slough, Colnbrook; Hillingdon, South Ruislip; Hillingdon Hospital; Hounslow, Cranford; Hounslow, Chiswick High Rd; and BAA Heathrow, LHR2 site close to northern airport runway.
	Information about air quality in the vicinity of Heathrow airport can also be found at www. heathrowairwatch.org.uk

Asbestos Cement Pipes

Ben Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what guidance her Department offers on the use of asbestos cement pipes to carry drinking water.

Elliot Morley: Asbestos pipes have been used extensively by the water industry without giving rise to any quality problems. However, the Drinking Water Inspectorate issued an information letter on behalf of the Secretary of State, which reminded water companies of the Asbestos (Prohibitions) (Amendment) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999 No. 2373). These Regulations effectively precluded the use of new asbestos cement pipes to carry drinking water, because of health and safety issues associated with cutting the material, not because of any concerns about possible effects of asbestos pipes on drinking water quality.

Aviation Emissions

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of the Government's target figure of carbon dioxide emissions in 2050 she estimates will be taken up by aviation emissions.

Elliot Morley: The Government estimate that domestic and international aviation emissions could account for 20–25 per cent. of UK carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. This calculation assumes that the 60 per cent. goal specified in the Energy White Paper for the domestic economy is achieved. If international aviation were to be included in the 60 per cent. goal emissions from other sectors would have to be around 15–20 per cent. below their Energy White Paper target to compensate.
	This calculation is based on an assumption of three new runways in the south east and does not reflect the impact of any economic instruments. It further assumes that emissions from all international departures from the UK are allocated to the UK inventory, as there is as yet no international agreement on ways of allocating international aviation emissions.
	The above figures do not include the radiative forcing effect which emissions from aviation have at altitude, which are 2–4 times greater than that from carbon dioxide alone.

Carbon Sinks

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the environmental benefits accruing from the ability of (a) sugar beet and (b) other crops to act as carbon sinks.

Elliot Morley: Separate estimates for sugar beet are not available but research sponsored by the Department suggests that an upper limit of 0.14 million tonnes carbon per year (Mt C/year) is accumulating in crop biomass as a whole in the UK, mainly as a result of increases in crop yield. This is small compared with the amount of carbon that is sequestered by forests, which is currently around 3 Mt C/year.
	Agriculture and forestry sectors probably contribute most effectively to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions through the production of energy crops and wood fuel by displacing use of fossil fuels.

Child Poverty

Barbara Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 2004–05; and if she will make a statement.

Alun Michael: I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Pond) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, column 1590W.

Common Agricultural Policy

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on Common Agricultural Policy reform and help provided to poorer farmers under the policy.

Alun Michael: The EU agreed on 26 June 2003 to a radical shift in the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In future, the bulk of subsidies will no longer be linked to production, freeing farmers to produce the safe, high quality food which people want and bringing environmental improvements.
	On 12 February my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State, announced how she proposed to implement key features of that groundbreaking reform in England. We will decouple fully in 2005 and move over an eight year transition period towards a flat rate Single Farm Payment to farmers. England will be split into two regions—land in the severely disadvantaged areas (SDAs) of the less favoured areas (LFAs) and all other eligible land. Different rates will apply in these regions. This represents a decisive irreversible and forward-looking shift consistent with the direction that we have already set in the Sustainable Farming and Food Strategy (SFFS) and in the June 2003 CAP reform negotiations.
	If farmers seize the market opportunities offered by these reforms, it is estimated that UK farm incomes could increase by around 5 per cent. relative to the 2003 Total Income from Farming, and farmers will be freed from some of the bureaucracy associated with the old subsidy schemes. For some of the poorer farms this change in support represents a chance to get off the treadmill of small scale and unprofitable commodity production.
	There are also Defra led initiatives already available to help poorer farmers. These include the Farm Business Advice Service to help farmers adjust and respond to the difficult trading conditions of recent years and a number of benchmarking initiatives to help struggling farmers see how they can bring their performance up to the level of more successful businesses.

Correspondence

David Wilshire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she will respond to the letter from the hon. Member for Spelthorne of 6 January 2004 regarding Mr. M. Gillard of Staines.

Alun Michael: My hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State responded on 16 February 2004.

Correspondence

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs with reference to her reply to the hon. Member for Pendle of 6 November 2003 on the dedication of land under section 16 of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000, how she followed up correspondence to Government Departments; what has been the response; what further steps will be taken to promote dedication to public and private landowners; and whether incentives will be made available.

Alun Michael: I was pleased to issue non-statutory guidance to accompany the regulations on dedication in January this year. The Forestry Commission is currently in the process of using the guidance to make the first few dedications across its freehold estate.
	I will be writing to a number of other large landowners in the public and private sectors soon to ask them to confirm their plans for dedicating land and am optimistic that this will lead to further successes. My officials are also considering ways to encourage dedications more widely.

Endangered Species

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

Elliot Morley: We will maintain the UK's position as a leading supporter of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in co-operation with EU member states and other contracting parties. CITES aims to ensure that where trade is carried out, it is done in a sustainable way that ensures the long-term survival of all species. It has been very successful in this respect and is widely respected for its ability to produce effective regulatory measures that are based on sound science. We will, therefore, continue to support CITES both practically and financially.

English Meat

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to promote English (a) beef and (b) lamb.

Alun Michael: The promotion of English beef and lamb is a matter for the industry. The Meat and Livestock Commission's English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) is considering whether to introduce an English brand for beef and lamb produced in England, but any promotion of this would need to be in accordance with the EU's rules on state aids.

English Meat

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the spend of her Department is on the promotion of English (a) beef and (b) lamb in the current financial year.

Alun Michael: EU co-funding is available for promotion and information campaigns carried out by industry bodies such as the Meat and Livestock Commission. We work closely with such bodies and the EU Commission with a view to maximising the benefit to the UK industry. We also encourage the marketing and branding of local and regional produce. A processing and marketing grant is also available within the England Rural Development Programme. Our approach, in keeping with the Treaty of Rome and our policy to help create a sustainable future for farming and food, is about helping the farming industry to move away from dependency on subsidies. This also fits well with our policy for reforming the Common Agricultural Policy.

Equine Passports

Desmond Swayne: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what assessment she has made of the impact of the proposal that veterinary surgeons complete silhouettes for equine passports on the practice of commoning in the New Forest; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  which organisations were consulted on proposals that veterinary surgeons complete silhouettes for equine passports; and for what reasons the New Forest Commoners Defence Association was not included in the consultation.

Alun Michael: We have never said that only veterinary surgeons can complete and sign the silhouette in horse passports. The passport must be signed either by a vet or the competent authority—which is the passport-issuing organisation—in accordance with European rules.
	When concerns were expressed to Defra that in some cases the person completing some silhouettes on behalf of the competent authority had no proven competency and that there was no independent verification of the details, I agreed to provide further guidance to all passport-issuing organisations. I explained this to a meting of all passport issuing organisations on 4 November 2003. The New Forest Verderers have informed Defra officials how they intend to meet the requirements in respect of silhouettes for animals in the New Forest, and officials have confirmed that these are within the guidelines issued.

Farming

Alan Beith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the effect on farm diversification of pre-1983 agricultural tenancy conditions which refer to earnings from agriculture.

Alun Michael: Ministers have become increasingly concerned that agricultural tenancy legislation, together with the terms contained in agricultural tenancy agreements, combine to prevent some tenant farmers from participating in diversification and agri-environment activities. Income from diversified activities might also affect succession rights under the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986. In view of these concerns, we reconvened the Tenancy Reform Industry Group in November 2002. The Group was asked to make recommendations to improve the health of the tenancy sector, and in particular, to encourage greater participation in farm diversification among tenant farmers.
	The Tenancy Reform Industry Group presented its report to Government in June 2003. The report, which has the support of all Group members, made a number of wide ranging recommendations for increasing flexibility within agricultural tenancies. These include updating the statutory succession provisions in the Agricultural Holdings Act 1986 to allow income derived from farm diversification projects undertaken with the consent of the landlord to be taken into account in assessing eligibility for succession to an agricultural tenancy. The Group also recommended a code of practice on diversification within agricultural tenancies, backed up by an independent adjudication scheme to which disputes can be referred when they cannot be settled between parties.
	The Government responded to the Report of the Tenancy Reform Industry Group shortly before Christmas. The Government accepted all of the Group's recommendations for amendments to the existing tenancy legislation and the proposed code of practice. It is anticipated that changes to the legislation will be effected by means of an Order under the Regulatory Reform Act. It is hoped that a formal consultation document on the Regulatory Reform Order will be issued later in the year.

Farming

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the total amount of Common Agricultural Policy subsidy paid to English farms in 2003, broken down by county; and what the (a) highest, (b) lowest and (c) average individual payment in each county were.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the total amount and average individual payments made for each county 1 in England. However, we are unable to supply information on individual payments under the terms of the Data Protection Act 1998 unless such details are allowed by any of the exemptions to the Act. If such exemptions can be identified then further consideration can be given to the request.
	Financial figures represent the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund 2003 accounting year which runs from 16 October 2002 to 15 October 2003.
	1 The county split is in line with NUTS 2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regional analysis.
	
		
			 County Total amount (£) Number of claims Average payment (£) 
		
		
			 Tees Valley and Durham 33,823,029.86 1,763 19,184.92 
			 Northumberland and Tyne & Wear 66,327,723.89 1,872 35,431.48 
			 Cumbria 72,822,877.45 4,852 15,008.84 
			 Cheshire 16,210,308.85 2,110 7,682.61 
			 Greater Manchester 4,320,959.33 560 7,715.99 
			 Lancashire 23,156,928.16 2,639 8,774.89 
			 Merseyside 2,762,820.68 188 14,695.85 
			 East Riding and North Lincolnshire 56,488,361.31 2,166 26,079.58 
			 North Yorkshire 111,619,984.91 6,108 18,274.39 
			 South Yorkshire 14,762,236.39 809 18,247.51 
			 West Yorkshire 14,179,485.69 1,469 9,652.47 
			 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 55,531,457.94 3,596 15,442.56 
			 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire 78,391,446.46 3,232 24,254.78 
			 Lincolnshire 98,095,650.80 3,432 28,285.65 
			 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire 74,282,940.97 5,158 14,401.50 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 78,969,277.49 6,222 12,691.94 
			 West Midlands 2,380,209.55 210 11,334.33 
			 East Anglia 186,325,648.48 8,097 23,011.69 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 35,191,734.37 1,243 28,311.93 
			 Essex 51,179,181.00 1,746 29,312.25 
			 Inner London 1,482,857.45 100 14,828.57 
			 Outer London 1,964,304.69 145 13,546.93 
			 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 77,024,191.94 2,987 25,786.47 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 48,432,661.98 2,615 18,521.09 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 38,625,646.00 1,747 22,109.70 
			 Kent 38,054,781.42 1,808 21,047.99 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset 88,933,774.97 5,315 16,732.60 
			 Dorset and Somerset 65,335,288.74 5,570 11,729.85 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 45,469,578.91 3,892 11,682.83 
			 Devon 91,593,508.63 7,613 12,031.20

Farming

Paddy Tipping: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many Common Agricultural Policy payments were made to farmers in each English county in 2003; and what the total area was that the subsidy related to, broken down by county.

Alun Michael: The number of Common Agriculture Policy payments made to farmers in each English county and the areas the subsidy related to are set out in the following tables. The county split for the number of claims paid is in line with NUTS 2 (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regional analysis.
	
		
			 County Claims paid 
		
		
			 Tees Valley and Durham 1,763 
			 Northumberland and Tyne and Wear 1,872 
			 Cumbria 4,852 
			 Cheshire 2,110 
			 Greater Manchester 560 
			 Lancashire 2,639 
			 Merseyside 188 
			 East Riding and North Lincolnshire 2,166 
			 North Yorkshire 6,108 
			 South Yorkshire 809 
			 West Yorkshire 1,469 
			 Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire 3,596 
			 Leicestershire, Rutland and Northamptonshire 3,232 
			 Lincolnshire 3,432 
			 Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire 5,158 
			 Shropshire and Staffordshire 6,222 
			 West Midlands 210 
			 East Anglia 8,097 
			 Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire 1,243 
			 Essex 1,746 
			 Inner London 100 
			 Outer London 145 
			 Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire 2,987 
			 Surrey, East and West Sussex 2,615 
			 Hampshire and Isle of Wight 1,747 
			 Kent 1,808 
			 Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and North Somerset 5,315 
			 Dorset and Somerset 5,570 
			 Cornwall and Isles of Scilly 3,892 
			 Devon 7,613 
		
	
	
		
			 County Area (ha) 
		
		
			 Bedfordshire 73,816 
			 Berkshire 43,578 
			 Buckinghamshire 100,562 
			 Cleveland 23,101 
			 Cambridgeshire 216,721 
			 Cheshire 108,343 
			 Cornwall 218,073 
			 Cumbria 415,450 
			 Derbyshire 164,544 
			 Devon 417,851 
			 Dorset 148,170 
			 Durham 140,407 
			 Essex 215,356 
			 Gloucestershire 165,425 
			 Hampshire 163,909 
			 Isle of Wight 18,562 
			 Hereford and Worcester 225,024 
			 Hertford 80,630 
			 Kent 162,236 
			 Lancashire 172,266 
			 Leicestershire 170,573 
			 Lincolnshire 398,284 
			 Merseyside 13,153 
			 Greater London (ER) 3,223 
			 Middlesex 3,177 
			 Norfolk 280,035 
			 Northamptonshire 164,961 
			 Tyne and Wear 13,370 
			 Northumberland 339,728 
			 Nottingham 118,970 
			 Oxfordshire 177,769 
			 Avon 62,751 
			 Shropshire 226,462 
			 Somerset 211,011 
			 Staffordshire 157,099 
			 Suffolk 225,151 
			 Isles of Scilly 49 
			 Surrey 35,421 
			 East Sussex 71,501 
			 West Sussex 79,980 
			 Warwickshire 120,579 
			 Greater Manchester 24,769 
			 Wiltshire 214,649 
			 West Midlands 11,518 
			 South Yorkshire 70,288 
			 North Yorkshire 483,462 
			 Beverly 76,166 
			 North Yorkshire 46,076 
			 Humberside 230,332 
			 Total 7,352,423

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the reliability of catch landing figures obtained by her Department is in determining fish stocks in British fishing waters; what her estimate is of the margin of error in estimations based on this information; what other information her Department uses to determine fish stocks; and what the estimated margins of error are using this information.

Ben Bradshaw: Fish stock assessments are undertaken by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) and are linked to the sea areas in which individual fish stocks are mainly found. They will often embrace the waters of more than one country as well as the high seas. Account is taken of data contributed by all of the main countries exploiting each stock and comprises officially recorded information on landings and fishing effort, plus scientific data on size and age structure, growth rate, maturity, and discard rates (when available). Most assessments also use the year to year trend in relative abundance estimated as catch per effort from independent national and international research vessel surveys. The absolute accuracy of assessments is difficult to estimate at the present time but judgments on the robustness of the underlying data will be reflected in the scientific advice provided regarding future levels of stock exploitation.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the effect is of the removal of large cod from a fishery on the overall levels of recruitment to a fishery.

Ben Bradshaw: Removing adult cod is expected to have relatively little effect on the survival or growth rates of juvenile cod, but could significantly affect the production of eggs.

Fisheries

Owen Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the EU (a) Necessity and (b) Recovery research programme on selective gear is scheduled to start; what the cost of each project is; and what the United Kingdom contribution to each project is.

Ben Bradshaw: The Necessity project begins on 1 March 2004 and is budgeted to cost Euro 2,806,946. The UK contribution is Euro 443,420. The Recovery project began on 1 November 2002 and was budgeted to cost Euro 7,725,285. The UK contribution is Euro 378,325.

Flooding

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will estimate how many properties have benefited from flood defence funding since 1997 broken down by constituency.

Elliot Morley: Defra grant aids capital projects and related studies that meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which they start. Decisions regarding which flood and coastal defence projects to promote, their timing and appropriate solutions are matters for the operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards.
	The Department estimates that 290,000 houses have benefited from flood defence projects (excluding those for flood warning or primarily to protect against coastal erosion) approved between 1 April 1997 and 31 March 2003. The programme is a rolling one and other houses will have benefited from projects approved prior to 1997 which will have been funded in the period. There is likely to be an element of double-counting in these figures where different projects (for example for annual beach recharge) have benefited the same houses. Such double-counting could not be removed, and neither could the total be broken down by constituency, without incurring disproportionate cost. The Department has agreed Service Delivery Agreement (SDA) Target 27 with HM Treasury to reduce flood risk to a further 80,000 houses (with no double-counting) during the Spending Review 2002 period—2003–04 to 2005–06. Because of the measurement method used for the SDA target (counting houses at project completion rather than approval) this figure will include some of the houses included in the 290,000 figure above.

Flooding

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what flood defences were funded by her Department, broken down by constituency, since 1997.

Elliot Morley: Defra grant aids capital projects and related studies that meet specified economic, technical and environmental criteria and achieve the threshold priority score for the year in which they start. Decisions regarding which flood and coastal defence projects to promote, their timing and appropriate solutions are matters for the operating authorities—the Environment Agency (EA), local authorities and (in areas with special drainage needs) internal drainage boards.
	The list which has been placed in the Libraries of the House, shows capital flood defence works projects (excluding those for flood warning or primarily to protect against coastal erosion) approved for grant since 1 April 1997. Of course the programme as a whole is a rolling one and some projects approved prior to 1997 will also have received funding in the period. I regret that I am unable to break the list down by constituency without incurring disproportionate cost.

Flooding

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to protect houses that have been built on flood plains.

Elliot Morley: We recognise that there are around 1.9 million properties in England in flood risk areas that are at some risk of flooding.
	Defra provides grant aid to the flood and coastal defence operating authorities to support their capital schemes to reduce flood risk, including through the improvement of flood warnings. These projects must meet specified criteria and an appropriate priority score to attract Defra funding but decisions regarding which projects to promote and their timing rest with these authorities. The principal operating authority for flood risk is the Environment Agency (EA) but local authorities (LAs) and, in areas with special drainage needs, internal drainage boards (IDBs) also carry out works on a much smaller scale overall.
	The effective management of flood and coastal erosion risk is a priority for Government. This is demonstrated by the substantial increase in funding in recent years and for the SR2002 period. For example, total Government expenditure on flood and coastal defence was £310 million in 1996–97, £439 million estimated in 2003–04 and is planned to be £564 million in 2005–06.
	Defra has two relevant SDA targets under SR 2002. One relates to the delivery of the enhanced flood and coastal defence capital programme over the SR2002 period, reducing the risk to life, to major infrastructure, environment assets and to some 80,000 houses. The other is to implement the outcomes of the flood and coastal defence funding review, including funding the Environment Agency's flood defence service through a single stream of Defra grant in aid and transferring to the Agency responsibility for all rivers creating the greatest flood risk.
	In addition, Defra has initiated work on a major new Government strategy for flood and coastal erosion risk management, including consideration of possible new funding streams.

Fuel Poverty

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the recommendations of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group in its second annual report to increase resources for energy efficiency programmes by 50 per cent.

Elliot Morley: I am grateful to the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group for their report.
	We are considering their report as we prepare our Fuel Poverty Implementation Plan and will respond to their recommendations in the Government's annual progress report on fuel poverty. We plan to publish both documents after the Easter recess.

Gangmasters

Peter Luff: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to encourage employees to be proactive in preventing illegal working, as stated in paragraph 24 of her Department's response to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's Fourteenth Report of Session 2002–03, HC 691, on gangmasters; and what data protection requirements inhibit her response to requests for assistance.

Alun Michael: Paragraph 24 of the Government's reply to the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee's report on gangmasters actually refers to the role of employers, not employees. My reply assumes that this is the meaning intended in your question.
	The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs is unlikely to be in a position to provide direct assistance to employers seeking advice on illegal working. However, My hon. Friend, the Minister for Citizenship, Immigration and Counter Terrorism, chairs the Illegal Working Steering Group which comprises representatives of the commercial sectors where illegal work is most prevalent. The steering group has examined ways in which employers can be encouraged and supported in carrying out checks under section 8 of the Asylum and immigration Act 1996. Following discussions with the steering group the Government have consulted on measures to strengthen the document checks of prospective employees that employers must make under section 8. The Government are now planning to bring forward revised measures.
	The Government are not aware of any circumstances where the Data Protection Act would inhibit the disclosure of data held by a Government Department or employers necessary for the prevention of illegal working or the apprehension of offenders.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations the Devolved Administrations in (a) Wales and (b) Scotland have made to her Department regarding the growing of Chardon LL maize in the UK.

Elliot Morley: The transformation event T25, contained in Chardon LL, already has a Part C marketing consent under Directive 2001/18/EC. Ministers are currently considering the advice of the Advisory Committee on Releases to the Environment on the commercial cultivation of T25 maize in light of the results of the Farm Scale Evaluations. The UK's position will be decided in consultation with the Devolved Administrations. Discussions with the Administrations in Wales and Scotland are on-going on this matter.
	The question of the possible addition of Chardon LL to the UK National Seed List is a matter for joint decision with the Devolved Administrations.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the acceptable threshold under EU law is for the contamination of non-GM crops planted in the UK with GM traits.

Elliot Morley: The EU has agreed a general threshold of 0.9 per cent. for tracing and labelling the adventitious presence of approved GM traits in non-GM crops and food. The European Commission's guidance to member states is that co-existence arrangements should not go beyond what is necessary to ensure that adventitious traces of GMOs stay below the tolerance thresholds set out in Community legislation.

GM Crops

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to refuse permission for the planting of GM crops before bringing laws into effect on (a) co-existence and (b) liability.

Elliot Morley: We are currently considering our policy on co-existence and liability in the light of the report on these issues by the Agriculture and Environment Biotechnology Commission. We will set out our response in due course.

GM Crops

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what representations she will make in the Council of Ministers regarding the European Commission's decision to support a proposal to permit BT11 GM maize to be imported as food into Europe; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: This application has already been referred to our advisory body who have raised no objection on food and safety grounds. It will be discussed in Council in the normal way.

Hen Harriers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what the population of hen harriers in the UK was (a) at the latest date for which figures are available and (b) in each of the previous 10 years;
	(2)  how many breeding pairs of hen harriers (a) established nests and (b) successfully bred in the UK in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available;
	(3)  what analysis she has undertaken of the impact of agricultural changes on the breeding success of hen harriers;
	(4)  what steps she is taking to encourage the reintroduction of breeding pairs of hen harriers to lowland England.

Ben Bradshaw: The most recent estimate of the hen harrier population is based on the results of the 1998 survey of hen harriers in the UK. A total of between 450–591 territorial pairs were found in the UK with a best estimate of 521 pairs. The full results were published in the journal Bird Study 48:341–353 in 2001. There are no directly comparable data for any of the previous 10 years but there is thought not to have been any overall change in the size of the population since the last estimate was published in 1993, for the period 1988–1989 (Bird Study 40: 1–11).
	The information regarding breeding pairs of hen harriers is not available for the whole of the UK. However, there were 17 known breeding attempts by hen harriers in England in 2003. Just eight of these were successful. A further five attempts failed before it could be established whether eggs had been laid.
	There are currently no steps being taken to encourage the reintroduction of breeding hen harriers to lowland England. The conservation effort for hen harriers in England is focused in upland moorland areas in northern England where hen harriers have nested regularly in recent decades. We believe that a cessation of illegal persecution in England, and elsewhere in the UK, would allow the population to recover naturally, obviating the need for any reintroduction programme. Furthermore, we believe that, in contrast to the Red Kite programme, the reintroduction would not be in accordance with IUCN guidelines, insofar as we cannot be certain that the factors which brought about their loss from the English lowlands (almost certainly habitat loss and persecution) no longer pertain.
	The Government have not specifically conducted an analysis of the impact of agricultural changes on the breeding success of hen harriers. However, agricultural change and persecution are widely held to have been responsible for the historical decline, to currently low levels, of the UK population. Currently, illegal persecution appears to be the main factor limiting hen harrier population size and breeding success over much of its range.
	This contrasts with Orkney, where the population has declined dramatically since the end of the 1970s. The decline here is thought to relate to declining prey availability, resulting from changes in agriculture, particularly a decrease in the area of rough grazing and an increase in sheep densities. Full details were published in Biological Conservation 111: 377–384 in 2003.
	It should be noted that in the absence of illegal persecution, hen harrier numbers might be expected to increase, if moorland burning regimes for both agricultural and grouse management purposes are altered. This would allow the development of taller heather swards and thus an increase in the area of suitable nesting habitat available to hen harriers. English Nature's Hen Harrier Recovery Project has shown that the inappropriate burning of moorland is a serious problem for the small number of hen harriers nesting in England. This results in the loss of nesting habitat and, in some cases, the destruction of active nests.

Hen Harriers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  when she last met (a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to discuss hen harriers;
	(2)  what representations she has received from (a) English Nature and (b) the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds on hen harriers;
	(3)  when she last met the (a) British Association of Shooting and Conservation, (b) the Countryside Alliance, (c) the Game Conservancy Trust and (d) the Moorland Association to discuss hen harriers.

Ben Bradshaw: With Regards to English Nature there has been no formal meeting to discuss, or specific representations received, on the position of hen harriers in England. However, we have received representations on habitats, including upland heathland, which support hen harrier populations, in relation to the condition of sites of special scientific interest. English Nature has also provided briefing on the establishment and progress of their Hen Harrier Recovery Project.
	The RSPB met with my hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Environment, (Mr Morley), in late 2002 to discuss Hen Harriers. Ministers met with the Game Conservancy Trust in May 2000, after the publication of the Raptor Working Group final report. Discussions focussed on the issues and recommendations surrounding this report. A further meeting is in the process of being arranged, for which the agenda has not yet been determined.
	I met with BASC in November last year, though we did not discuss hen harriers. I have been invited to meet with the Countryside Alliance. However, due to other pressing diary commitments I have had to decline. This meeting was not to specifically discuss the issue surrounding Hen Harriers. Ministers have not met with the Moorland Association regarding the position of hen harriers in England.

Hen Harriers

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions she has had with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on (a) hen harriers and (b) Operation Artemis;
	(2)  what involvement she had in planning Operation Artemis;
	(3)  whether she intends Operation Artemis to be a long-term solution to the position of the hen harrier in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has had no direct discussions with JNCC concerning Operation Artemis, nor the position of hen harriers in England.
	Operation Artemis is a police-led initiative aimed at combating the illegal persecution of hen harriers in the United Kingdom. Defra officials have had no direct involvement planning the Operation but outline proposals were presented at the Police and Customs Wildlife Enforcement Conference at Exeter in October 2003. This annual event is organised by Defra as part of its support for the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime (PAW).
	Chief Constable Richard Brunstrom (North Wales Police and co-chair of PAW) is due to launch Operation Artemis at the forthcoming PAW Open Seminar to be held in London on 24 February 2004. In the absence of full details of the range of activities planned by the Police Service and other partners, it is too early to assess whether or not this initiative is likely to offer a long-term solution to the issue of illegal persecution of hen harriers in England.

Ivory Trade

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to ensure that the proposed sales of ivory stockpiles do not conceal illegal trade.

Elliot Morley: The decision to allow this one-off sale of ivory stockpiles was taken at the Conference of Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) in Chile in November 2002. One of several very strict pre-conditions which must be met before any sales can take place is that the CITES Secretariat must be satisfied that the importing countries are able to effectively regulate their domestic ivory trade to prevent any illegal ivory from entering into these markets. We will therefore be working in co-operation with the EU member states and other CITES parties to make sure that this, and all the other strict conditions, are met in full before any sales are allowed to go ahead.

Large Combustion Plant Directive

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how she will implement the Large Combustion Plant Directive; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: holding answer 25 February 2004
	We have received a range of comments on the Regulatory Impact Assessment that was published in June 2003 with other consultation documents regarding the implementation of the Directive. We are continuing to assess the potential economic impact on UK industry of the introduction of the Directive, using both internal analyses and independent research. We are also in detailed dialogue with industry to help us to understand their views as expressed in response to consultation.
	We expect to make an announcement about our plans for implementation of the Directive as soon as possible after the further analysis has been completed and evaluated.

Meat Imports

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much (a) beef and (b) lamb was imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EU in each of the last three years.

Alun Michael: The following table shows the level of (a) beef and (b) lamb/sheep meat and meat products imported into the United Kingdom from countries outside the EU in each of the last three years for which 12 months data is available.
	
		UK imports of beef and lamb/sheep meat from non-EU countries, 2000–02
		
			 Commodity 2000 2001 2002 
			 type/country t'000(1) £ million t'000(1) £ million t'000(1) £ million 
		
		
			 Beef   
			 Brazil 66 95 74 106 72 98 
			 Argentina 10 19 6 11 24 39 
			 Uruguay 9 19 9 14 15 27 
			 Botswana 6 17 11 31 6 18 
			 Namibia 6 20 9 29 7 25 
			 Others 14 38 12 29 8 20 
			 Beef total 111 208 121 220 131 227 
			
			 Lamb/sheep   
			 New Zealand 85 163 71 155 77 179 
			 Australia 12 20 10 20 13 29 
			 Others 2 3 1 3 2 5 
			 Lamb/sheep total 99 186 82 177 91 213 
		
	
	(1) Product weight.
	Source:
	HM Customs and Excise.

Migrant Workers (Cockle Industry)

Angela Eagle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to tackle the illegal exploitation of migrant workers in the cockle industry, with particular reference to improving co-ordination with the Home Office.

Alun Michael: The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs is one of the departments which participates in Operation Gang master. This multi agency initiative which also includes the Home Office Immigration Service, is designed to collate intelligence and to sponsor joint operations against those gang masters who break the law while operating in the informal economy. This includes the provision of labour to the cockle industry.
	Government Departments also undertake individual compliance activity against illegal working. In this context the Immigration Service has conducted three operations with other agencies since June 2003 targeted at illegal working in the cockle industry in the Morecambe Bay area.
	The Government are currently considering the details of the Gang master (Licensing) Bill presented by the hon. Member for West Renfrewshire (Jim Sheridan) as a private members bill. This provides for a licensing scheme which would, if introduced, regulate the activities of gang labour providers in the agriculture and related sectors.

Milk

Albert Owen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of milk imports to the UK came from Poland in the latest period for which figures are available; and what percentage of UK consumption this represents.

Alun Michael: Trade information up to November 2003 has been received by Defra from Customs and Excise. From January 2001 to 30 November 2003, there are no recorded imports of liquid milk from Poland.

Milk

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much milk was imported in the last three years, broken down by country of origin; and what percentage of the total milk processed in the UK this was in each case.

Alun Michael: The following table shows (a) UK imports of milk and (b) percentage of total new UK supply, split down by country of despatch for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002.
	
		UK imports of milk, 2000–02
		
			  2000 2001 2002 
			 Country t'000(2) Percentage of totalnew UK supply t'000(2) Percentage of totalnew UK supply t'000(2) Percentage of totalnew UK supply 
		
		
			 Irish Republic 62 0.4 56 0.4 27 0.2 
			 France 9 0.1 10 0.1 11 0.1 
			 Germany 20 0.1 12 0.1 6 0.0 
			 Denmark 26 0.2 10 0.1 1 0.0 
			 Belgium 7 0.1 4 0.0 2 0.0 
			 Netherlands 0 0.0 1 0.0 2 0.0 
			 Others 2 0.0 0 0.0 0 0.0 
			
			 Total 126 0.9 93 0.6 49 0.3 
		
	
	(2) Product weight.
	Source
	HM Customs and Excise/Defra.

Ministerial Visit

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she last visited a grouse moor in an official capacity.

Ben Bradshaw: Within the last year I have visited three grouse moors; Ilkley Moor, in August, Brendon Hills in September and the Chilterns in December. I have also accepted an invitation to visit another moorland estate later this year.

Organic Farms

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many organic farms there were in (a) Lancashire and (b) Chorley in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: As of March 2003, there were 44 organic farms in Lancashire, of which two were located in Chorley. It is not possible to comment on the number of organic farms in each of these areas prior to this date since the Department has only just started to collate this information.
	The following table does however show the number of organic farms who were benefiting from aid under the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in each of the years 2001, 2002 and 2003:
	
		Organic farming scheme
		
			  Lancashire Chorley 
		
		
			 2001 29 2 
			 2002 29 2 
			 2003 28 2 
		
	
	The OFS is an entirely voluntary agri-environment scheme which provides financial help during the conversion period to help farmers make the move from conventional to organic farming methods. From 30 May 2003, the OFS was re-launched with an optional option i.e. a maintenance option, which offers payments to all existing organic farmers to encourage the continued management of the land in an environmentally beneficial way.

Public Bodies

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs who the members of the (a) Joint Nature Conservation Committee and (b) Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee were on 1 January; what their term of office is in each case; and whether they are remunerated.

Elliot Morley: The information requested is as follows:
	
		(a) Joint Nature Conservation Committee
		
			 Name Term of Office Remuneration (£) 
		
		
			 Acting chair   
			 Professor David Ingram 1 April 2002 to31 March 2005 34,765 
			
			 Members   
			 Professor Peter Doyle 1 April 2003 to31 March 2006 8,536 
			 Professor Richard Pentreath 1 April 2003 to31 March 2006 8,536 
		
	
	(b) Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee
	The appointments of the members of the Radioactive Waste Management Advisory Committee expired on 31 December 2003 and an announcement will be made shortly regarding the future of the committee.

Raptors

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of (a) the impact of the UK Raptor Working Group and (b) the health of the raptor population; and what plans she has to reconvene the working group.

Ben Bradshaw: Ministers welcomed the final report of the Raptor Working Group, in 2000, as providing Government a consensus view from organisations representing statutory and non-governmental conservation, game-management and racing pigeon interests as to desirable actions to reduce conflicts with birds of prey. The statutory nature conservation agencies and others, co-ordinated through various fora, are taking the detailed recommendations of the Working Group forward. Monitoring of raptor populations provides feedback as to the status of different populations. To this end, the extent and scale of illegal persecution of birds of prey continues to give cause for concern, as does, in particular, the population status of the hen harrier in the UK.
	There are no immediate plans to reconvene the Working Group.

Raptors

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what means of control are available to a landowner where biodiversity on his land is endangered by an excess population of raptors.

Ben Bradshaw: Birds of prey are an important part of the natural biodiversity of the UK and the health of their populations is widely recognised as a key measure of ecosystem health. While we recognise that some specific conflicts occasionally arise with human interests, notably on grouse moors, with racing pigeons, and with lowland gamebirds, we are not aware of any land in the UK where biodiversity more generally is endangered by raptors. The legal means of control for raptors are limited. Government established a Raptor Working Group in 1995, involving a wide range of stakeholder interests, to advise, inter alia "on statutory and other mechanism for the resolution of problems". The UK Raptor Working Group's report, published in 2000, recommends "enhanced enforcement of existing legislation to seek to eliminate illegal killing of birds of prey". A copy of their final report is in the House of Commons Library.

Raptors

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the current estimated population is of (a) buzzards, (b) peregrine falcons, (c) hobbies, (d) merlins, (e) ospreys, (f) goshawks and (g) marsh harriers; and what the population of each was in each of the previous 10 years.

Ben Bradshaw: Annual population statistics do not exist for buzzard, peregrine or merlin. The most recent UK population estimates are set out as follows. The estimate for buzzard is known to be a significant under-estimate, but there has been no formal survey of its current UK population size.
	
		
			 Species Year of most recent UK survey Population estimate 
		
		
			 Buzzard 1983 (Northern Ireland) and1988–91 (Great Britain) 12,000–17,000 pairs 
			 Peregrine 2002 (UK and Isle of Man) 1,402 pairs 
			 Merlin 1993 and 1994 1,300±200 pairs 
		
	
	Annual UK population estimates are available for the following species, based on the collation of best available information by the Rare Breeding Birds Panel. Collated national totals are not yet available for the 2002 or 2003 breeding seasons.
	
		
			  Hobby (confirmed and possible breeding pairs) Osprey (occupied territories) Goshawk (confirmed and possible breeding pairs) Marsh harrier (breeding females) 
		
		
			 1991 469 73 229 91 
			 1992 582 76 243 107 
			 1993 493 88 299 110 
			 1994 500 95 225 129 
			 1995 430 99 319 156 
			 1996 454 104 213 136 
			 1997 624 111 347 132 
			 1998 675 131 249 138 
			 1999 553 136 293 145 
			 2000 711 151 322 206 
			 2001 697 158 255 195

Raptors

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  what systems her Department has for monitoring the (a) numbers and (b) impact of raptors in the UK;
	(2)  what analysis she has made of the impact of raptors on (a) the brown hare population, (b) game birds and (c) new born lambs.

Ben Bradshaw: Raptor populations in the UK are monitored through a number of schemes. Information on these schemes is comprehensively summarised in table 2.4 of the final report of the UK Raptor Working Group, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library. There is no national provision for monitoring the impact of raptors in the UK.
	There have been no studies conducted on the impacts of raptors on the brown hare population. But the impact of raptors on game birds was studied and reviewed in the report of the UK Raptor Study Group.
	With regards to lambs the Scottish Executive and Scottish Natural Heritage, commissioned a study of the interaction between white-tailed eagles and lambs on Mull, in 1999 and 2000.
	The results showed that the diet of 11 pairs of white-tailed eagles during the breeding season was species-diverse but included lambs. While most pairs took few lambs, one pair took twice as many lambs as any other pair under study. A lack of alternative prey (rabbits) and the proximity of the nest to a lambing area in 1999 may have been responsible for higher lamb predation then. There was no information as to whether lambs killed by eagles would otherwise have survived.
	The study found that the number of lambs was small compared with overall lamb mortality, but sufficient to be an important loss to an individual farmer if eagle predation of lambs was additive and concentrated on one farm. There is no information to suggest that raptors take significant numbers of lambs elsewhere in the UK. Further information on this study is available in: Birds of Prey in a Changing Environment, pp471–479, published in 2003 by The Stationery Office.

Raptors

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the (a) cost and (b) efficacy of English Nature's raptor programmes.

Ben Bradshaw: Raptor conservation projects form a small element of English Nature's conservation work. The two significant projects currently ongoing are the Red Kite Reintroduction Programme and the Hen Harrier Recovery Project, with costs to English Nature in 2003–04 of approximately £10,000 and £90, 000 respectively.
	The Red Kite Reintroduction Programme is a partnership between English Nature, RSPB and a wide range of other organisations and funding bodies. The majority of funding for this programme comes from external sources, including the Heritage Lottery Fund and sponsorship from private companies. The Red Kite re-establishment programme in England, together with a similar programme in Scotland and effective conservation measures for the species in Wales, has increased Red Kite numbers to a level where they constitute a small but significant proportion of the European total. As was intended at the outset, the project has helped enhance the international status of Red Kite, a species whose global distribution is restricted to Europe.
	English Nature's Hen Harrier Recovery Project is now entering its third year. It is staffed by a project coordinator and three seasonal fieldworkers. It has so far been successful in improving our understanding of the status of the hen harrier in England and of the factors affecting breeding numbers and success.

Raptors

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the outcome of the red kite reintroduction programme in England.

Ben Bradshaw: The on-going red kite reintroduction programme is widely recognised as one of the most successful projects of its kind. It has already resulted in the re-establishment of self-sustaining red kite populations in three areas of England, with estimates of about 200 breeding pairs in the Chilterns, 30 in the Midlands and 16 in Yorkshire in 2003. Despite the success of the programme, less than 5 per cent. of the bird's potential British range has been recolonised. Further releases are anticipated, and from spring 2004, birds will be released in north-east England in order to encourage recolonisation of this part of the bird's former range.
	The red kite programme has also been instrumental in raising public awareness of conservation by focusing interest on a flagship species such as the red kite. It has also highlighted issues that still adversely affect birds of prey more generally in Britain. This includes the use of illegal poison baits in the open countryside and accidental secondary poisoning by modern, highly toxic rodenticides. The high profile of the red kite project has been utilised to help promote effective measures to tackle these issues, which will benefit a wide range of wildlife in addition to the red kite.

Single Farm Payments

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when she expects the first Single Farm Payments to be made.

Alun Michael: The Single Payment Scheme will be introduced in 2005; the earliest date provided for in the June 2003 CAP reform agreement. The payment window for 2005 payments will open at the start of December 2005 and run to the end of June 2006. We will endeavour to commence payments as soon as possible within that period.

Trophy Hunting

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on trophy-hunting.

Elliot Morley: Many of the species that are hunted for trophies are listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), which is implemented in the EU under Council Regulation 338/97. Under these Regulations, the import of hunting trophies is allowed only where it has been established that this will not be detrimental to the populations concerned. We shall not hesitate to use the powers that are available to refuse the import of hunting trophies where there is evidence that these have been taken illegally, or that such hunting is itself unsustainable.

Warm Front

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what action she is taking to improve the effectiveness of the Warm Front programme following the recommendations of the Fifth Report of the Public Accounts Committee of Session 2003–04.

Elliot Morley: We are currently considering options for the future format of Warm Front. We expect to publish our conclusions as part of the Fuel Poverty Implementation Plan which we plan to publish after the Easter Recess.

Wind Turbines

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what research she plans to commission into the effects on health of low frequency noise from wind turbines.

Alun Michael: Defra is not currently researching the effects of low frequency noise from wind turbines on health. However, as part of Defra's research programme on noise and nuisance issues, research has been let to better understand the assessment, management and effects of low frequency noise as a whole.

World Environment Day

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to mark World Environment Day on 5 June; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: The Department is currently considering a number of options regarding Environment Day but no firm or detailed decisions have yet been made.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Minutes

Peter Lilley: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether it is her Department's policy to make notes of (a) meetings and (b) telephone conversations involving Ministers; and under what circumstances no notes would be taken.

Richard Caborn: holding answer 20 January 2004
	The Department for Culture, Media and Sport follows the central "Guidance on the Management of Private Office Papers" which makes clear that good record management procedures are necessary not least to ensure accountability and provide an audit trail. Among the records covered by the guidance are Ministers' meetings and telephone conversations.

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many days on average her Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was.

Richard Caborn: Ministerial colleagues and officials at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport attach great importance to answering parliamentary questions accurately and to time. We aim to ensure that all Members receive a substantive response to an ordinary written question within a working week of it being tabled.
	It is not possible to provide information in the format requested without incurring disproportionate cost. However, during the Session 2002–03, 1,224 ordinary written questions were tabled to DCMS, excluding those withdrawn or transferred to another Department. 642 (52.5 per cent.) were answered within the target date. Of those questions remaining, 63.9 per cent. (372 questions) were answered within the next one to five working days.
	The greatest number of days taken to answer an ordinary written question was 132 working days.

Tobacco Task Force

John Randall: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she expects the Tobacco Task Force to (a) report next and (b) be wound up.

Richard Caborn: The Tobacco Task Force is not scheduled to deliver any further reports. Any outstanding business of the Tobacco Task Force is expected to be concluded by August 2005 at which time the ban on tobacco sponsorship will cover 'global sports'.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Work Permits (Health Workers)

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many work permits were issued to health workers for each of the top 10 medical specialties in each of the last 10 years.

Beverley Hughes: The total number of work permits approved by the top 10 medical specialties from 2000 to the third quarter of 2003, the period for which information is available, is as follows:
	
		
			  Number of work permits approved 
		
		
			 2000  
			 Hospital consultants (undefined) 1,917 
			 Pharmacist 415 
			 Dentist 302 
			 Psychiatrist 121 
			 Radiographer 99 
			 Occupational Therapist 90 
			 Optician 58 
			 Speech Therapist 42 
			 Anaesthetist 35 
			 Psychologist 34 
			 Total 3,113 
			   
			 2001  
			 Hospital consultants (undefined) 2,141 
			 Pharmacist 474 
			 Dentist 319 
			 Physiotherapist 261 
			 Psychiatrist 240 
			 Radiographer 155 
			 Occupational Therapist 135 
			 Optician 97 
			 Speech Therapist 63 
			 Anaesthetist 43 
			 Total 3,928 
			   
			 2002  
			 Hospital consultants (undefined) 5,900 
			 Pharmacist 443 
			 Radiographer 390 
			 Physiotherapist 378 
			 Dentist 357 
			 Psychiatrist 352 
			 Occupational Therapist 238 
			 Anaesthetist 213 
			 Optician 194 
			 Biomedical Scientist 181 
			 Total 8,646 
			   
			 2003 (Figures for the first three quarters only)  
			 Hospital consultants (undefined) 6,970 
			 Radiographer 364 
			 Pharmacist 315 
			 Physiotherapist 311 
			 Dentist 293 
			 Psychiatrist 262 
			 Occupational Therapist 163 
			 Anaesthetist 156 
			 Speech Therapist 155 
			 Biomedical Scientist 130 
			 Total 9,119

Asylum Seekers

Tony Colman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a decision on the asylum application ref: R333201 of the Saudi Arabian constituent of the hon. Member for Putney.

Beverley Hughes: holding answer 12 February 2004
	As you are aware, this is a complex case, which is still being actively considered. I am unable at this time to say when a decision on the asylum claim will be made. I have written to my hon. Friend on 25 February with further details.

Car Crime

Michael Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) car thefts and (b) thefts from cars were reported in Worcester in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: The table shows the recorded crime figures for the Worcester Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership (CDRP). Figures for 2002–03 will have been altered by the introduction of the National Crime Recording Standard (April 2002). Figures were not collected for any previous financial years.
	
		
			  Theft of a motor vehicle Theft from a motor vehicle 
		
		
			 2002–03 417 1,388 
			 2001–02 353 912 
			 2000–01 402 753 
			 1999–2000 457 906

Crime (Havering and Romford)

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons under the age of 18 were convicted of criminal offences last year in (a) Romford and (b) the London Borough of Havering.

Paul Goggins: The available information relates to 2002 and shows that 338 persons aged under 18 years were convicted in the Havering Petty Sessional Area, the magistrates court which sits at Romford. The figure includes eight persons convicted at the Crown court, having been committed for trial from Havering PSA.
	Statistics for 2003 will be available in the autumn.

Criminal Records Bureau

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 28 January 2003, Official Report, column 440W, regarding the Criminal Records Bureau, if he will place a copy of the survey in the Library.

Hazel Blears: Once the report has been finalised, a copy will be made available and placed in the Library.
	I will write to you again to confirm when this has been done.

Criminal Records Bureau

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to enable the Criminal Records Bureau to access information from Customs and Excise and Immigration authorities.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 23 February 2004
	From the outset, the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has been able to access conviction data in relation to cases brought by non-"Home Office" police forces and other agencies such as Customs and Excise, through the Police National Computer. Similarly, the CRB would have access to relevant local intelligence held by the police arising from a joint operation involving the police and an agency such as Customs and Excise. We are committed to bringing forward legislation as soon as parliamentary time allows to enable the CRB to access intelligence information held by non-"Home Office" police forces and other law enforcement agencies such as Customs and Excise and, in due course, the Serious Organised Crime Agency. It is currently open to bodies such as Customs and Excise, if they have information that, for example, connects a school employee to the smuggling of child pornography, to notify the relevant authorities of such information.

Criminal Records Bureau

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will commission research to assess the effectiveness of the Criminal Records Bureau in protecting children.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 23 February 2004
	We shall build on research conducted in early 2003 which showed that employers found information supplied by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) useful in making recruitment decisions, and that some one in five had decided not to appoint someone on the basis of information supplied by the CRB.

Female Prisoners

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls aged (a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 years were held in prisons in England and Wales in each of the last five years; in which establishments they were held; and whether there are girls of these ages in prison now.

Paul Goggins: The number of girls aged (a) 15, (b) 16 and (c) 17 held in prisons in each of the last five years and on 30 November 2003, by establishment, is given in the table.
	The Youth Justice Board issued a commitment to remove all 16-year-old girls from Prison Service custody by 31 December 2003. This commitment was achieved. However, in. exceptional circumstances it may be necessary to detain a 16-year-old girl in a Young Offenders Institution in the future.
	
		Number of girls aged 15,16 and 17 in prisons by age
		
			  15 16 17 
		
		
			 June 1999   
			 Brockhill 0 1 3 
			 Bullwood Hall 4 4 9 
			 Drake Hall 0 0 1 
			 Eastwood Park 0 1 8 
			 Foston Hall 0 0 1 
			 Holloway 1 3 7 
			 New Hall 1 7 21 
			 Styal 1 6 7 
			 
			 June 2000   
			 Brockhill 0 2 7 
			 Bullwood Hall 1 4 5 
			 Drake Hall 0 0 1 
			 Eastwood Park 1 4 5 
			 Holloway 1 3 12 
			 Low Newton 0 1 3 
			 New Hall 0 6 7 
			 Styal 0 8 18 
			 
			 June 2001   
			 Brockhill 1 0 6 
			 Bullwood Hall 2 2 21 
			 Eastwood Park 0 2 9 
			 Holloway 1 1 8 
			 Low Newton 0 0 3 
			 New Hall 3 7 22 
			 Styal 0 0 2 
			 
			 June 2002   
			 Brockhill 0 4 9 
			 Bullwood Hall 2 2 25 
			 Eastwood Park 1 3 4 
			 Holloway 0 3 10 
			 Low Newton 0 0 1 
			 New Hall 6 15 27 
			 Styal 0 0 5 
			 
			 June 2003   
			 Brockhill 0 2 7 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 3 11 
			 Eastwood Park 0 0 6 
			 Holloway 0 0 11 
			 Low Newton 0 0 1 
			 New Hall 0 1 34 
			 
			 November 2003   
			 Brockhill 0 1 12 
			 Bullwood Hall 0 0 15 
			 Eastwood Park 0 0 9 
			 Holloway 0 0 4 
			 New Hall 0 1 23

Fixed Penalty Notices

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by community support officers; and for what offences.

Hazel Blears: Information on how many fixed penalty notices have been issued by Community Support Officers (CSOs) in individual forces is not collected centrally.
	CSOs may be given powers to issue penalty notices for a variety of offences. Designating CSOs with these powers, and determining the appropriate recording procedure, is a matter for the Chief Officer in each force which has CSOs. The following fixed penalty notice powers may be given to CSOs:
	penalty notice for riding a bicycle on the footpath;
	penalty notice for litter;
	penalty notice for dog fouling;
	penalty notice for disorder offences; and
	those CSOs who are also appointed as Traffic Wardens, may issue traffic penalty notices available for that role.
	The following are available to CSOs under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and have not yet been commenced.
	penalty notice to parents for truancy—due to commence 27 February;
	penalty notice for graffiti—due to commence 31 March; and
	penalty notice for fly posting—due to commence 31 March.

Forensic Science Service

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the Oral Answer of 19 January 2004, Official Report, column 1073, on the Forensic Science Service, what extra resources the Forensic Science Service requires in (a) one-off capital investment and (b) additional annual revenue.

Hazel Blears: The independent McFarland Review found the Forensic Science Service (FSS) to be significantly under-capitalised, a situation compounded by the constraints of Trading Fund status. The actions we are taking to develop the FSS as a Public Private Partnership (PPP) will ensure it has the commercial freedoms necessary to develop and build on its proven ability as a world leader.
	The future financial requirements of the FSS are currently being addressed in work under way to produce an outline business case that will look in greater detail at how best to optimise its performance and economic prospects.

Identity Theft

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the individuals arrested in operations against identity theft of British passports have been (a) charged and (b) convicted; what the sentence was in each case; and how many passports were recovered.

Beverley Hughes: It is not possible for me to provide the hon. Member with the details sought within this question. This information is not routinely collected and could be retrieved only at disproportionate cost.

Leyhill Prison

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the events which led to the escape of Mr. Roddy Maclean from Leyhill Prison.

Paul Goggins: I received the final investigation report into the abscond of Roderick McLean on 10 February. I am studying the report and will write to the hon. Member.

New Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department who is carrying out the survey to identify suitable sites for new, large prisons; and what the terms and conditions of the survey are.

Paul Goggins: The Prison Service is actively seeking urban sites that are suitable for the development of prison establishments. The size and function of new prison establishments is determined by the size and mix of the projected population. The details of individual sites cannot be disclosed at this stage for commercial reasons.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many plain-clothes officers are deployed by police forces in England and Wales.

Hazel Blears: The requested information is not available centrally.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provision is made for police drivers to receive (a) initial and (b) refresher training; and if he will make a statement.

Hazel Blears: Police driver training is a matter for individual forces.
	A national driver training package was produced in 2000 which was endorsed by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) and recommended to forces. It consists of three core courses:
	Basic—assessment to ensure driving competence;
	Standard—training which may include emergency response driving; and
	Advanced—further training to perform roles which require a high level of driving skill.
	It is recommended that periodic formal assessments should take place every three to five years, accompanied by refresher training, if required.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance his Department has published on (a) the vision levels that police drivers need to achieve and (b) how frequently they should receive eye checks.

Hazel Blears: The Home Office has not issued guidance on eyesight standards specific to drivers in the Police Service.
	The Association of Police Officers Joint Working Group on Health, Safety and Welfare Medical Sub Group produced guidance on visual driving standards in 1994. This was set as a minimum visual acuity of 6/18.
	The guidance also states that advanced drivers should undertake a medical assessment, including eyesight test, every three years until aged 45 and then annually.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what standards of driving test police drivers are required to meet; and what the failure rate was in each year since 1997.

Hazel Blears: Police driving standards, ranging from basic to pursuit, are published on the Association of Chief Police Officers website: www.acpo.police.uk/policies/index.html
	There is no central collection of data on failure rates.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines are published by his Department on the disciplinary code for police drivers.

Hazel Blears: The Code of Conduct set out in the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999 sets out the principles which guide police officers' conduct and applies to officers working in all areas and of all ranks.
	There is no specific code or principle that relates to police drivers. The Association of Chief Police Officers issues Police Driving Guidelines, which all police forces follow.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary measures are taken against police drivers who are involved in road accidents.

Hazel Blears: Discipline measures are taken against those police officers who are found to have breached the Code of Conduct.
	Police drivers who are involved in road traffic accidents are not automatically assumed to have breached the Code of Conduct. However, if an allegation or report of a breach is made a disciplinary investigation will be undertaken and this can result in a hearing. If the case is proved against the officer the disciplinary hearing will determine the appropriate sanction, which, if serious can be dismissal from the force.

Police

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what Government criteria there are for (a) siting of police cells, (b) the number of police cells and (c) conditions of police cells.

Hazel Blears: The number and siting of police cells is a local operational matter for the Chief Constable and the Police Authority.
	The conditions of police cells are subject to National and European legislation such as the Health and Safety Act, the Disability Discrimination Act and the Human Rights Act.
	The Home Office has issued the Police Design Buildings guidance and intends producing a Design Quality Guide. Police Authorities and forces are also advised on building projects by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Police

David Kidney: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research his Department has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the displacement of crime from areas subject to intensive policing initiatives to neighbouring areas.

Hazel Blears: Research in London has found very little evidence of geographic or functional displacement as a consequence of the Street Crime Initiative (SCI). While there was some evidence of local shifts within the boroughs, this was not considered significant.
	Under the Crime Reduction Programme there were a number of evaluations which included some estimation of whether activity had led either to a displacement of crime, or conversely to what is termed a diffusion of benefits (reductions in crime across a larger area, or across a wider range of crime types, than were being targeted).
	For instance a report detailing the impact of 63 evaluated Reducing Burglary Initiative (RBI) projects is soon to be published, and this report will include estimates of displacement and diffusion of benefits. Under the RBI, a methodological report was also produced by one of the evaluation teams that examined the complex issue of how one measures crime displacement, and proposed a new statistical technique for doing so.
	However, it has to be acknowledged that there remains no agreed methodology for assessing whether policing initiatives result in a displacement of crime or a diffusion of benefits. Nevertheless, past research evidence from outside the Home Office indicates that displacement of crime resulting from police or related crime reduction activities is by no means inevitable, and indeed crime reduction gains usually outweigh any possible displacement of crime.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the prison health care centre in Liverpool has entered into a commercial cleaning contract.

Paul Goggins: There is no commercial contract for cleaning in the health care centre at Liverpool prison.

Prisons

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many suicides there have been in safe cells in each of the last two years;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of the average costs of a suicide in prison;
	(3)  what plans he has to change the design of safe cell units;
	(4)  what consultatons his Department has had with suppliers of safe cell units.

Paul Goggins: Safer cells have several design features which can assist staff in the task of managing those at risk from suicide, such as specially designed furniture and fixtures which are manufactured and installed to make the attachment of ligatures very difficult, and access to window bars prevented via non-opening windows with integral ventilation grills. Realistically, no cell can be considered totally 'safe' and the Prison Service's preferred terminology is 'safer cell.' Safer cells can complement (but not replace) a regime providing care for at risk prisoners.
	The Prison Service employs the term 'self-inflicted death' rather than 'suicide.' This includes all those deaths where it appears the person may have acted specifically to take his/her own life. In 2002, of the 95 self-inflicted deaths in prisons, four occurred in safer cells. In 2003, of the 94 self-inflicted deaths in prisons, three occurred in safer cells. In 2004 to date (28 January), of the 10 self-inflicted deaths in prison, one has occurred in a safer cell.
	An independent evaluation of safer cells, carried out by the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science in 2003, including interviews with prisoners and staff, revealed that the ventilation design in safer cells may require revision. Otherwise, the Institute concluded that the safer cells programme has much to commend it, and recommended that the programme continue. Three prisoners stated to evaluators that being in a safer cell had prevented them from killing themselves.
	The Prison Service is already looking into alternative safer ventilator designs to meet the report's finding. In those cases where ligature points have been identified in particular types of safer cells, remedial action has been taken and guidance issued to prisons. Also, funding has been agreed to progress the design and production of second generation safer cell furniture, building on the original safer cell furniture design, and by using mass production techniques reducing costs and enhancing robustness.
	The competition for the framework agreement for the supply and installation of safer cell furniture was procured under European Union rules. A notice was issued in the Official Journal of the European Community in June 2001. Nine companies responded to the Notice, and five were subsequently short-listed to receive the tender documentation. Tenderers' responses were evaluated, both commercially and technically to see which offered overall best value for money, three companies being awarded the framework agreement. Those companies were: MT Hogjaard, Premier Custodial Group Ltd. and Newcastle Joinery Ltd. Premier Custodial Group Ltd. have subsequently withdrawn from the framework. The framework agreement was for a period of twelve months commencing on 23 January 2003. The framework agreement has been extended for six months and is now due to expire 23 July 2004. The Authority does have the right under the Agreement to extend the framework for a further two periods of three months each.
	The total cost of a self-inflicted death in prison is £132,660.

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners escaped from prisons in each of the past six years, broken down by (a) date, (b) category of offender and (c) prison; and on what date each was recaptured.

Paul Goggins: The following tables list the information requested for the past five financial years, and so far in the current year. Escapes where the prisoner was recaptured within 15 minutes are not included. The security categories are A, B, C or D for adult male prisoners; A, closed or open for female prisoners and Restricted Status, closed or open for young offenders.
	Unsentenced prisoners are not security categorised and are termed Unclassified. Escapes can take place only from closed establishments; an escape from an open prison is counted as an abscond. There have been no category A or YO restricted status escapes since 1995.
	
		Table 1: Numbers of escapes
		
			 Year Number of escapes from prisons 
		
		
			 1998–99 28 
			 1999–2000 30 
			 2000–01 10 
			 2001–02 15 
			 2002–03 5 
			 2003–04 10 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Details of escapes
		
			 Establishment Security Category ofPrisoner Date of Escape Date of Recapture 
		
		
			 Guys Marsh C 5 May 1998 5 May 1998 
			 Guys Marsh C 5 May 1998 5 May 1998 
			 Altcourse Unclassified 21 May 1998 21 May 1998 
			 Werrington YO closed 25 May 1998 29 May 1998 
			 Werrington YO closed 25 May 1998 25 May 1998 
			 Werrington YO closed 25 May 1998 25 May 1998 
			 Werrington YO closed 25 May 1998 25 May 1998 
			 Werrington YO closed 25 May 1998 30 May 1998 
			 Aldington C 14 June 1998 21 August 1998 
			 Featherstone C 19 July 1998 20 July 1998 
			 Lindholme C 2 September 1998 7 September 1998 
			 Eastwood Park Female closed 23 September 1998 23 September 1998 
			 Everthorpe C 26 September 1998 1 October 1998 
			 Deerbolt YO closed 26 October 1998 30 October 1998 
			 Deerbolt YO closed 26 October 1998 26 November 1998 
			 Glen Parva YO closed 5 November 1998 27 November 1998 
			 Glen Parva YO closed 5 November 1998 12 November 1998 
			 Pentonville C 26 November 1998 26 November 1998 
			 Castington YO closed 20 December 1998 21 December 1998 
			 Castington YO closed 20 December 1998 21 December 1998 
			 Littlehey C 30 December 1998 30 December 1998 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Unclassified 31 January 1999 Not recaptured 
			 Featherstone C 7 February 1999 13 November 1999 
			 Featherstone C 7 February 1999 30 April 1999 
			 Featherstone C 7 February 1999 27 October 1999 
			 Feltham YO closed 27 February 1999 17 March 1999 
			 Lincoln C 10 March 1999 19 March 1999 
			 Dover YO closed 25 March 1999 13 April 1999 
			 Featherstone C 1 April 1999 12 April 1999 
			 Thorn Cross YO closed 23 May 1999 23 May 1999 
			 Huntercombe YO closed 24 May 1999 24 May 1999 
			 Risley C 29 May 1999 29 May 1999 
			 Parc Unclassified 23 June 1999 23 June 1999 
			 The Mount C 26 June 1999 24 December 1999 
			 Rochester YO closed 19 July 1999 20 July 1999 
			 Rochester YO closed 19 July 1999 20 July 1999 
			 Rochester YO closed 19 July 1999 3 August 1999 
			 Lindholme C 7 August 1999 13 August 1999 
			 Lindholme C 7 August 1999 15 March 2000 
			 Lindholme C 7 August 1999 4 September 1999 
			 Styal Female closed 8 August 1999 8 September 1999 
			 Styal Female closed 8 August 1999 12 August 1999 
			 Styal Female closed 8 August 1999 15 August 1999 
			 Styal Female closed 8 August 1999 14 August 1999 
			 Liverpool Unclassified 8 August 1999 9 September 1999 
			 Lindholme C 23 September 1999 23 June 2000 
			 Lindholme C 7 October 1999 12 October 1999 
			 Lindholme C 7 October 1999 14 October 1999 
			 Lindholme C 7 October 1999 14 October 1999 
			 Lindholme C 7 October 1999 14 October 1999 
			 Haverigg C 21 November 1999 21 November 1999 
			 Stocken C 12 November 1999 29 November 1999 
			 Littlehey C 26 November 1999 Not recaptured 
			 Hollesley Bay YO closed 1 March 2000 1 March 2000 
			 Hollesley Bay YO closed 1 March 2000 1 March 2000 
			 Hollesley Bay YO closed 1 March 2000 1 March 2000 
			 Deerbolt YO closed 12 March 2000 12 March 2000 
			 Deerbolt YO closed 12 March 2000 12 March 2000 
			 Guys Marsh C 22 June 2000 19 September 2000 
			 Erlestoke C 23 July 2000 23 July 2000 
			 Blantyre House C 30 August 2000 22 August 2002 
			 Portland YO closed 1 October 2000 1 October 2000 
			 Risley C 16 November 2000 6 February 2001 
			 Brinsford YO closed 29 December 2000 7 August 2001 
			 Downview D 5 January 2001 19 January 2001 
			 Kirklevington C 10 January 2001 7 February 2001 
			 Lancaster Castle C 14 January 2001 14 January 2001 
			 Lancaster Castle C 14 January 2001 14 January 2001 
			 Guys Marsh C 3 July 2001 24 July 2001 
			 Guys Marsh C 3 July 2001 9 July 2001 
			 Guys Marsh C 3 July 2001 24 July 2001 
			 Feltham YO closed 29 July 2001 14 September 2001 
			 Wealstun C 14 August 2001 11 October 2001 
			 Grendon B 30 September 2001 30 September 2001 
			 Grendon B 30 September 2001 1 October 2001 
			 Grendon C 30 September 2001 1 October 2001 
			 Doncaster Unclassified 8 November 2001 9 January 2001 
			 Winchester B 10 December 2001 15 December 2001 
			 Erlestoke C 30 January 2002 2 February 2002 
			 The Verne C 7 February 2002 14 March 2002 
			 Norwich Unclassified 14 February 2002 16 February 2002 
			 Rye Hill B 18 March 2002 19 March 2002 
			 Rye Hill B 18 March 2002 26 March 2002 
			 Brixton Unclassified 30 June 2002 Not recaptured 
			 Norwich C 18 July 2002 31 July 2002 
			 Cardiff Unclassified 10 November 2002 12 December 2002 
			 Littlehey C 13 November 2002 20 November 2002 
			 Weare C 9 February 2003 19 February 2003 
			 Brinsford YO closed 26 May 2003 28 May 2003 
			 Brinsford YO closed 26 May 2003 26 May 2003 
			 Brinsford YO closed 26 May 2003 26 May 2003 
			 Brinsford YO closed 26 May 2003 26 May 2003 
			 Dartmoor C 16 June 2003 22 June 2003 
			 Dartmoor C 16 June 2003 9 July 2003 
			 Lindholme C 23 July 2003 27 July 2003 
			 Bullingdon C 8 August 2003 26 August 2003 
			 Parc Unclassified 10 October 2003 Not recaptured 
			 Leicester Unclassified 8 December 2003 9 December 2003

Prisons

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list by prison the number of out-of-cell hours that prisoners are permitted.

Paul Goggins: The average number of daily hours that prisoners have spent out of their cells on weekdays and weekends during the financial year to the end of December is given in the table.
	
		
			 Establishment Weekdays Weekends 
		
		
			 Acklington 10.4 9.2 
			 Albany 10.0 7.4 
			 Altcourse 13.0 13.0 
			 Ashfield 10.0 9.3 
			 Ashwell 15.5 15.5 
			 Askham Grange 16.0 16.0 
			 Aylesbury 8.7 6.2 
			 Bedford 7.9 5.7 
			 Belmarsh 8.6 4.4 
			 Birmingham 7.6 6.9 
			 Blakenhurst 7.9 7.5 
			 Blantyre House 15.3 15.3 
			 Blundeston 10.1 7.4 
			 Brinsford 8.7 6.3 
			 Bristol 8.0 6.0 
			 Brixton 4.5 3.6 
			 Brockhill 8.7 7.1 
			 Buckley Hall 13.4 13.1 
			 Bullingdon 10.2 .6.4 
			 Bullwood Hall 11.1 7.3 
			 Camp Hill 10.7 8.5 
			 Canterbury 7.5 7.1 
			 Cardiff 9.1 5.9 
			 Castington 7.7 5.3 
			 Channings Wood 9.8 6.9 
			 Chelmsford 9.7 7.3 
			 Coldingley 12.5 10.0 
			 Cookham Wood 7.7 7.5 
			 Dartmoor 9.3 7.0 
			 Deerbolt 9.1 5.4 
			 Doncaster 11.3 11.3 
			 Dorchester 11.6 10.6 
			 Dovegate 12.6 11.2 
			 Dover 12.0 11.9 
			 Downview 10.6 9.3 
			 Drake Hall 16.0 16.0 
			 Durham 9.8 4.7 
			 East Sutton Park 15.1 17.0 
			 Eastwood Park 10.7 8.3 
			 Edmunds Hill 9.5 9.5 
			 Elmley 8.6 7.7 
			 Erlestoke 11.0 10.0 
			 Everthorpe 11.1 8.8 
			 Exeter 8.5 7.5 
			 Featherstone 8.2 10.1 
			 Feltham 6.9 9.5 
			 Ford 13.3 13.3 
			 Forest Bank 12.4 7.7 
			 Foston Hall 10.5 9.1 
			 Frankland 9.3 7.0 
			 Full Sutton 9.5 7.5 
			 Garth 10.0 7.5 
			 Gartree 10.0 7.3 
			 Glen Parva 7.0 3.5 
			 Gloucester 6.8 5.0 
			 Grendon 14.0 11.7 
			 Guys Marsh 8.2 7.4 
			 Haslar 11.2 10.4 
			 Haverigg 11.9 11.9 
			 Hewell Grange 24.0 24.0 
			 High Down 6.2 4.4 
			 Highpoint 10.0 7.5 
			 Hindley io.q 8.9 
			 Hollesley Bay 15.5 15.5 
			 Holloway 7.1 6.4 
			 Holme House 5.4 4.9 
			 Hull 5.6 5.2 
			 Huntercombe 9.9 8.6 
			 Kingston 12.1 7.7 
			 Kirkham 13.5 13.0 
			 Kirklevington 19.0 19.0 
			 Lancaster 10.0 7.5 
			 Lancaster Farms 9.9 8.6 
			 Latchmere House 19.0 19.0 
			 Leeds 8.7 8.0 
			 Leicester 9.3 6.5 
			 Lewes 7.5 6.5 
			 Leyhill 16.01 16.0 
			 Lincoln 6.2 1.3 
			 Lindholme 11.0 7.8 
			 Littlehey 9.1 8.6 
			 Liverpool 7.1 5.4 
			 Long Lartin 9.2 9.2 
			 Low Newton 10.5 8.4 
			 Lowdham Grange 12.8 12.8 
			 Maidstone 8.8 6.6 
			 Manchester 10.8 8.5 
			 Moorland 11.4 5.1 
			 Morton Hall 15.0 15.0 
			 Mount 8.4 6.7 
			 New Hall 11.0 9.3 
			 North Sea Camp 21.6 21.6 
			 Northallerton 8.3 6.4 
			 Norwich 8.4 6.6 
			 Nottingham 7.8 5.0 
			 Onley 8.3 7.6 
			 Parc 9.8 10.0 
			 Parkhurst 8.9 6.8 
			 Pentonville 7.6 7.0 
			 Portland 8.2 5.6 
			 Preston 8.2 6.5 
			 Ranby 9.9 9.1 
			 Reading 7.9 6.6 
			 Risley 10.5 10.1 
			 Rochester 6.7 6.5 
			 Rye Hill 11.7 11.6 
			 Send 12.9 12.9 
			 Shepton Mallet 10.5 9.1 
			 Shrewsbury 9.4 17.1 
			 Stafford 9.6 4.8 
			 Standford Hill 12.0 12.0 
			 Stocken 10.8 6.2 
			 Stoke Heath 10.3 10.1 
			 Styal 11.6 11.4 
			 Sudbury 20.7 20.7 
			 Swaleside 9.8 7.3 
			 Swansea. 8.9 8.6 
			 Swinfen Hall 10.4 6.8 
			 Thorn Cross 12.5 15.3 
			 Usk·Prescoed 14.5 13.4 
			 Verne 16.0 16.0 
			 Wakefield 9.0 6.5 
			 Wandsworth 6.0 3.9 
			 Warren Hill 10.3 9.0 
			 Wayland 10.3 8.8 
			 Wealstun 12.0 12.0 
			 Weare 9.7 8.9 
			 Wellingborough 9.8 8.0 
			 Werrington 11.0 9.7 
			 Wetherby 9.8 6.1 
			 Whatton 12.0 9.2 
			 Whitemoor 9.7 7.5 
			 Winchester 8.8 6.5 
			 Wolds 12.6 10.4 
			 Woodhill 8.9 7.5 
			 Wormwood Scrubs 7.1 5.4 
			 Wymott 10.7 10.1

Sentences

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1290W, on sentences, whether the extension of penalty fines to 10 to 16-year-olds outlined in the Anti-social Behaviour Act 2003 will be introduced before the publication of the evaluation of the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds.

Hazel Blears: holding answer 24 February 2004
	We will be evaluating the operation of the scheme for 16 to 17-year-olds, on an interim basis after six months and again after 12 months. We expect to pilot penalty notices for disorder in some areas for 10 to 15-year-olds later this year, taking account of early experience with 16 and 17-year-olds.

Serious Organised Crime Agency

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the proposed total headcount is for (a) agents, (b) management and (c) administrators for the Serious Organised Crime Agency; and what the headcount is for the agencies that it will replace.

Hazel Blears: It is expected that the new agency will have approaching 5,000 staff but it is too early to provide a breakdown of that number into agents, management and administrators. As precise details of all the numbers to be transferred have yet to be determined, it is not possible to provide a comprehensive indication of the headcount for the agencies that it will replace.

Women Prisoners (Drug Offences)

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women are in prison for (a) drug offences, (b) drug trafficking offences and (c) supply offences; and of these groups of women, what percentage (i) have dependent children, (ii) are UK nationals and (iii) are non-UK nationals, giving countries of nationality in each case.

Paul Goggins: Information as at the end of June 2003 on the number of women in prison in England and Wales for drug offences, drug trafficking offences and supply offences, and the percentage of these who are UK nationals and non UK nationals are given in the following tables.
	Information on the number of women in prison for drugs offences who have dependent children is not available.
	
		Females by custody type and drugs offence type and nationality
		
			  Unlawful import/export Unlawful supply Possession with intent to supply Possession Other drugs offences 
		
		
			 UK nationals 
			 Sentenced 278 33 143 276 9 
			 Untried 18 4 11 33 0 
			 Convicted unsentenced 9 7 6 27 0 
			 Fine defaulters 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Non-criminals 0 1 0 0 0 
			   
			 Foreign nationals 
			 Sentenced 508 4 20 41 4 
			 Untried 26 1 4 11 0 
			 Convicted unsentenced 12 0 0 4 0 
			 Fine defaulters 0 0 0 1 1 
			   
			 Nationality not known 
			 Sentenced 4 1 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		Females by drug offences and nationality -- Percentage
		
			  Unlawful import/export Unlawful supply Possession with intent to supply Possession Other drugs offences 
		
		
			 United Kingdom 36 86 87 88 64 
			 Nationality Missing 1 0 0 2 0 
			 Belgium 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Brazil 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Colombia 0 0 0 2 0 
			 France 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Germany 1 0 0 2 0 
			 Ghana 1 0 0 0 0 
			 India 0 0 0 0 14 
			 Irish Republic 0 1 0 0 0 
			 Jamaica 38 11 10 6 14 
			 Netherlands 3 0 0 0 0 
			 Nigeria 3 1 0 0 0 
			 Portugal 1 0 0 0 0 
			 South Africa 2 0 0 0 0 
			 Spain 2 1 0 0 0 
			 Trinidad and Tobago 2 0 0 0 0 
			 United States 2 0 0 0 7 
			 Venezuela 1 0 0 0 0 
			 Other 4 0 3 0 1 
			 Total 100 100 100 100 100 
		
	
	Note:
	Figures are rounded and therefore may not add to 100.

Young Offenders Institutions

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether resources available for young offenders institutions will be increased during 2004.

Paul Goggins: At this time baselines for individual establishments have been finalised for 2004–05. The position will be clearer when the distribution of budgets within the Prison Service has been actioned during March.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Child Trafficking

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what resources are available under the Children Act 1989 for local authorities to care for child victims of trafficking; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: It is for local councils to decide the level of resources they allocate to services for children in their area, including the child victims of trafficking.
	Overall the local government settlement has increased resources for Children's Social Services from almost £3.7 billion in 2003–04 to just over £4.0 billion in 2004–05. This provides for an increase in total resources of some 8.7 per cent. overall.

Children's Fund

Stephen Byers: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what reductions he intends to make in the allocation of funding to the Children's Fund; what consultation has taken place with the key stakeholders; what estimate has been made of the impact of funding reductions on individual programmes; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: holding answer 12 February 2004
	Allocations to Children's Fund partnerships were originally planned to reduce by £24.6 million in 2004–05, from £164.6 million to £140 million. However, following representations from affected projects I have been able to identify additional resources outside the programme which means that a total of £160 million plus a contingency amount of £6 million will be available to partnerships in 2004–05.
	I have consulted key stakeholders through the Children's Fund Advisory Forum which is made up of the main voluntary sector organisations involved in the Fund, the LGA and the ADSS. The Department is assessing the impact of its decisions directly with partnerships through both the Advisory Forum and its regional teams. Final decisions on 2005–06 will not be taken until I know the outcome of the 2004 Spending Review.

Civil Servants

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many civil servants, broken down by grade, there are in the Department and the agencies for which the Department is responsible; and what the figures were in January 1997.

Charles Clarke: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office (Mr. Alexander) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1294W.
	The number of staff in the former Department for Education and Employment as at 1 January 1997 was 37,598. This comprised 4,999 in the core Department (including the Government Offices) and 32,599 in the former Employment Service Agency. A grade breakdown could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Education Funding

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how much was spent from central government funds per pupil on (a) primary and (b) secondary education in (i) the East Riding of Yorkshire and (ii) the UK in each of the last five years.

David Miliband: My right hon. Friend is responsible for education in England only, so the following table gives a comparison between the East Riding of Yorkshire and the England average.
	
		Per pupil funding from 1999–2000 to 2003–04
		
			  East Riding of Yorkshire England average 
			  SSA/EFS Grants Total SSA/EFS Grants Total 
		
		
			  Primary (aged 3–10)   
			 1999–2000 2,210 150 2,350 2,410 150 2,560 
			 2000–01 2,270 310 2,580 2,470 310 2,780 
			 2001–02 2,330 390 2,730 2,520 420 2,940 
			 2002–03 2,320 430 2,750 2,570 450 3,010 
			 2003–04 2,620 300 2,930 2,850 350 3,200 
			
			  Secondary (aged 11–15)  
			 1999–2000 3,000 80 3,080 3,250 100 3,360 
			 2000–01 3,110 230 3,340 3,370 270 3,630 
			 2001–02 3,150 320 3,470 3,420 400 3,820 
			 2002–03 3,200 340 3,530 3,480 420 3,900 
			 2003–04 3,140 370 3,520 3,460 500 3,960 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Figures reflect education SSA/EFS settlement (all sub-blocks). Total funding also includes all revenue grants in DfES Departmental Expenditure Limits relevant to EPS pupils aged 3–10 and 11–15.
	2. Figures exclude EMAs and grants not allocated at LEA level and the pensions transfer to EPS and LSC for 2003–04.
	3. The pupil numbers used are those underlying the EPS/EPS settlement calculations plus PLASC three-year-old maintained pupils and estimated three to four-year-olds funded through state support in maintained and other educational institutions where these are not included in the SSA pupil numbers.
	4. 2003–04 and 2002–03 figures are provisional estimates as some grants have not yet been finalised/audited. Data are as reported by LEAs.
	5. Real terms figures are based on GDP deflators as at 6 January 2004 (2002–03 prices).
	6. Per pupil figures are rounded to the nearest £10 so may not sum.

Employer Training Pilot

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills if he will make a statement on the roll-out of the Employer Training Pilot.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Employer Training Pilots (ETP) were introduced in six local Learning and Skills Council areas in September 2002 to test new measures to improve access to training. ETPs offer a package of support to help low-skilled people in work gain their first level 2 or basic skills qualification. The pilots were subsequently extended for a further year (to August 2004) and doubled in number to cover a total of 12 LSC areas.
	An independent evaluation of the first year of the pilots, published in December 2003, showed that ETPs are proving successful at engaging employers and their low-skilled employees in training. Building on this success, the Pre-Budget Report in December announced that ETPs are being extended for a third year and that a further six pilots will be launched in September 2004. This will mean that the pilots cover over a third of England and will enable the Government to explore further the impact of the pilots on the demand for training.
	My officials are currently consulting with the Learning and Skills Council's Regional Directors over the locations for the new pilots and an announcement will be made in due course.

Foundation Degrees

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many students have started Foundation Degrees since they were introduced; and what proportion have completed the courses.

Alan Johnson: The latest data from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), showing the number of students starting Foundation Degrees, is given in the table. Completion rates are not calculated by the Department, but figures published in January by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA) show that in 2002/03, 1,100 students successfully completed Foundation Degrees.
	We welcome the increase in numbers. We now need to build on this as we look to make Foundation Degrees the standard two year qualification at this level.
	
		Students starting Foundation Degrees HE and FE institutions in England
		
			 Academic year Full-time Part-time 
		
		
			 2001/02 2,331 1,922 
			 2002/03 4,805 4,170 
			 2003/04 8,274 6,966 
		
	
	Source:
	Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Millennium Volunteers

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills when the Department will announce which organisations will deliver the Millennium Volunteers programme.

Ivan Lewis: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Local projects should now know their funding allocations for the period to March 2006. We hope to notify national projects about their allocations in the near future.

Specialist Schools

David Chaytor: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many (a) specialist schools and (b) non-specialist schools are designated under section 102 of the School Standards and Framework Act 1998; and how many and what percentage of pupils they have selected in each year since their designation.

David Miliband: The Department does not collect data on the number of schools which have partial selection by aptitude as part of their admission arrangements; or how many individual pupils are selected as a result of such tests. However, we do know that of the 685 specialist schools operational in September 2001, 6 per cent. reported that they were selecting a percentage of their pupils on aptitude in a chosen specialist subject.

Student Finances

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills pursuant to the answer of 5 February 2004, Official Report, column 1030W, by the Minister for Education (Lifelong Learning and Higher Education), to the hon. Member for Hertsmere, on student finance, if he will break down the financial assistance available to students by each £1,000 band of family income between £15,000 and £35,000 under (a) the present arrangements and (b) his proposed arrangements for higher education funding from 2006–07.

Alan Johnson: The following table summarises the financial assistance available to students by each £1,000 of income between £15,000 and £35,000 under the present arrangements:
	
		Present arrangements—2003/04 -- £
		
			 Residual income Fee remission Maintenance loan 
		
		
			 £15,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £16,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £17,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £18,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £19,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £20,000 1,125 4,000 
			 £21,000 1,077 4,000 
			 £22,000 972 4,000 
			 £23,000 866 4,000 
			 £24,000 761 4,000 
			 £25,000 656 4,000 
			 £26,000 551 4,000 
			 £27,000 445 4,000 
			 £28,000 340 4,000 
			 £29,000 235 4,000 
			 £30,000 129 4,000 
			 £31,000 24 4,000 
			 £32,000 0 3,919 
			 £33,000 0 3,814 
			 £34,000 0 3,708 
			 £35,000 0 3,603 
		
	
	Note:
	Maintenance loan rates given are for students living away from home and studying outside London (and not in the final year of their course).
	I refer my hon. Friend to my response to the hon. Member for Epsom and Ewell (Chris Grayling) on 10 February 2004, Official Report, column 1398W, that indicates the size of loan available under the arrangements outlined in the Government's discussion paper "Moving toward a single combined grant for higher education".
	More detailed information will be available in due course as details such as tapers for the single combined grant are finalised.

UK Students Overseas

David Heathcoat-Amory: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many UK students studied abroad on full-time courses in (a) the EU, (b) the USA and (c) the Commonwealth in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Alan Johnson: The latest available information is tabulated as follows. The figures are from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and show the number of students studying overseas. Mode of study is not available.
	
		Students from the UK in tertiary education abroad: 2001
		
			 Country of study Student numbers 
		
		
			 European Union: (reporting)  
			 Austria 214 
			 Belgium 231 
			 Denmark 388 
			 Finland 147 
			 France 2,721 
			 Germany 2,397 
			 Ireland 1,939 
			 Italy 145 
			 Netherlands 648 
			 Spain 2,363 
			 Sweden 791 
			 Total 11,984 
			   
			 USA  
			 Total 7,059 
			 Commonwealth Countries (reporting)  
			 Australia 4,529 
			 Malaysia 66 
			 New Zealand 149 
			 Total 4,744 
		
	
	Source:
	"Education at a glance 2003'' published by OECD

Universities

Helen Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the age profile is of first degree entrants to UK universities (a) in 2003–04, (b) five years ago and (c) 10 years ago, broken down by those aged (i) 20–30, (ii) 31–40, (iii) 41–50, (iv) 51–60 and (v) 60 years and over.

Alan Johnson: The latest available data are shown in the table. Comparable data for earlier years is not held centrally.
	
		Full-time First Degree Entrants to UK HE Institutions(3)
		
			 Age 1994/95 1997/98 2002/03 
		
		
			 Under 20 years 181,630 212,270 235,141 
			 20–30 years 97,465 96,444 96,661 
			 31–40 years 16,301 16,090 14,523 
			 41–50 years 5,330 4,985 5,011 
			 51–60 years 846 984 987 
			 61 years or over 249 346 257 
			 Unknown 474 954 210 
			 Total 302,295 332,073 352,790 
		
	
	(3) Figures cover all domiciles and are based on a census count as at 1 December.
	Note:
	Figures for 2002/03 are provisional.
	Source:
	Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA).

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Cyprus Travel Advice

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what advice he provided to tourists inquiring about the safety of travel to Cyprus in mid to late March 2003.

Denis MacShane: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Our advice to British holidaymakers and other visitors with effect from 19 March 2003 was:
	"Terrorism: There have been a number of car bombs in the Limassol area and Nicosia over the past few years. Although the perpetrators have not been identified, these activities are restricted for the most part to in-fighting among the criminal fraternity."
	"But UK nationals should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, in all countries of the world, against civilian targets in public places, including tourist sites."
	"Cyprus is not directly affected by the situation in Iraq. We therefore see no reason for holiday plans to be changed. Please monitor the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website for updates to the travel advice for Cyprus, or contact Consular Section at the British High Commission in Nicosia."

European Union (Criminal Injuries Compensation)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what schemes are available for UK citizens injured in (a) an EU member state and (b) an EU accession state to have access to criminal injuries compensation.

Denis MacShane: I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Chesham and Amersham (Mrs. Gillan) on 9 February 2004, Official Report, column 1254W.
	Historical information about the amount of compensation paid and the number of applications received during one year under the state compensation schemes in each EU member state was given at paragraph 3.8 of the European Commission's Green Paper, 'Compensation to crime victims' (reference COM(2001)536) issued on 28 September 2001. The paper can be accessed via the Internet at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/off/green/index en.htm.

Chechnya

Julian Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment he has made of the extent of human rights abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya.

Bill Rammell: We continue to be concerned over the human rights situation in Chechnya and consistent reports of human rights abuses. We are especially concerned over reports of rising numbers of disappearances and abductions. I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to him on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 524W, for our most recent representations in this area.

Chechnya

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the Government of Japan on the current human rights situation in (a) North Korea and (b) China.

Chris Mullin: We are concerned about reports of serious human rights violations in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and China. We have regular human rights dialogues with the Japanese Government both in Japan and the UK. The most recent round of talks took place on 30 January 2004. Human rights issues in both DPRK and China were raised in these talks. We are consulting closely with the Japanese on how to handle the question of North Korea at the forthcoming Commission on Human Rights, given the DPRK's failure to respond to the resolution passed there at the Commission's 2003 session.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Parliamentary Questions

Graham Brady: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many days on average his Department took in Session 2002–03 to give a substantive answer to a parliamentary question for ordinary written answer; and what the greatest number of days taken to answer such a question was.

Hilary Benn: In Session 2002–03, DFID was asked a total of nearly 2,500 parliamentary questions, the information requested is not held centrally and we are unable to provide it without incurring disproportionate cost.
	The effective handling of parliamentary questions is an issue to which my ministerial colleague and I attach great importance. We try to respond to parliamentary questions within the parliamentary deadlines whenever possible.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

House Prices (Seaside Towns)

Chris Ruane: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average house price was in each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales in the latest month for which figures are available, with figures for Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated.

David Lammy: The information requested is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. My hon. Friend might be interested in viewing the property price data on the Land Registry's website. This provides average sale prices for properties in England and Wales down to postcode sector level for each county or unitary authority.

Outstanding Debt (Preston Courts)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs how much outstanding debt is held in the Preston courts.

Christopher Leslie: Preston county court issued 4,472 claims for money in 2002 and 4,215 in 2003. All civil county courts have a computerised record system. The system, however, is unable to collate a figure to show how much debt claims have been issued for. As the debtor has to make the payment direct to the creditor there is no access to information of the value of debt outstanding to creditors within the court. The only way to access up to date information would be to extract the court files from Preston county court and to contact each creditor individually to ask how much debt is outstanding. This information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.
	At the end of 2003, the total outstanding debt at Preston magistrates court for financial penalties was £1,631,433.00. This figure includes the Crown court fines, costs, Crown Prosecution Service costs, Legal Aid and compensation that is collected by the magistrates court. The figure does not include civil financial orders (maintenance, forfeiture of recognisance etc.) as no data is collected on civil matters.

Postal Voting

Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Department for Constitutional Affairs on what evidence he based his decision that (a) Yorkshire and the Humber and (b) the North West region was suitable to pilot all-postal voting in the June elections.

Christopher Leslie: The European Parliamentary and Local Elections (Pilots) Bill, currently in Parliament, will allow pilots of innovative voting methods at this year's European and combined local elections. The Government asked the Electoral Commission to recommend where pilots should take place and the Commission published its recommendations on 8 December 2003.
	The Commission identified the North East and East Midlands regions as 'highly suitable' and 'suitable'. The Commission also identified four regions that 'could potentially be suitable', These were, in descending order of suitability, Scotland, Yorkshire and the Humber, the North West and the West Midlands. It regarded the remaining regions as 'not suitable'.
	The Government accepted the recommendations regarding the North East and East Midlands on 16 December. Other options were then carefully considered. An approach of holding discussions with electoral administrators in the potentially suitable regions was decided upon, to establish what their concerns were and whether or not these could be addressed.
	Scottish Returning Officers had written to the Commission expressing various concerns. While Government viewed these as being about the same practical issues that affect the other regions, and despite efforts to allay their concerns, the Returning Officers remained concerned about their capacity to ensure an effective election. As a consequence of these concerns about operational capability, the Government decided not to impose a pilot in Scotland.
	There has already been positive experience of all-postal pilots in local elections in Yorkshire and the Humber and the North West. Discussions with these regions showed that they were confident that successful pilots could be arranged for June and the North West in particular had commenced work to prepare for a possible pilot. It was, therefore, decided that both of these regions should hold pilots, in addition to the two regions already announced.

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Business Support

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much funding has been allocated by her Department to supporting (a) science, (b) innovation, (c) enterprise and (d) competition for each year between 1997 and 2007 in (i) real terms and (ii) as a proportion of the overall departmental budget; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government have invested heavily in the science and engineering base. In the current spending review period the science budget is growing at 10 per cent. year-on-year in real terms, building on the average 7 per cent. growth over the previous spending review period, and reaching just short of £3 billion by 2005–06. The recent announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer of his intention to develop a 10-year investment framework for science and investment, to be announced at the time of the next spending review settlement, signals the Government's continuing long-term commitment to science.
	Successive departmental reports have provided breakdowns and explanations of my Department's expenditure. However, figures can be provided only on a consistent (resource) basis from 1998–99; further, spending plans for 2006–07 have not yet been agreed, so figures are shown up to 2005–06 only.
	The following table is based on information published in the 1999 to 2003 Departmental Reports, where more details and explanations can be found:
	
		
			   Years(4) 
			  1998–99 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 
			  Outturn Outturn Outturn Outturn Working provision Plans Plans Plans 
		
		
			 Science(6) 
			 Real (£ million)(5) 1,764.7 1,798.6 1,894.7 1,944.9 2,222.0 2,349.0 2,566.5 2,810.8 
			 Percentage of total 53 38 27 29 28 40 57 53 
			  
			 Innovation(7) 
			 Real (£ million) 298.2 287.5 307.4 303.2 322.3 333.0 339.5 354.3 
			 Percentage of total 9 6 4 4 4 6 7 7 
			  
			 Enterprise(8) 
			 Real (£ million) 166.8 208.4 293.8 283.8 423.4 394.0 348.7 358.6 
			 Percentage of total 5 4 4 4 5 7 7 7 
			  
			 Competition(9) 
			 Real (£ million) 6.5 8.7 9.2 10.5 25.9 26.5 28.9 29.5 
			 Percentage of total 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
		
	
	(4) Figures are shown from 1998–99 (the first year for which resource information was produced) to 2005–06 (the final year of the current Spending Review period).
	(5) Figures are shown in real terms at 2002–03 prices (using GDP deflators from the HM Treasury website) and as a proportion of total DTI expenditure (resource and capital), as listed on pages 190 and 194 of "Central Government Supply Estimates 2003–04 Supplementary Budgetary Information" (Cm 5797, May 2003), where a breakdown is available.
	(6) The figures from the Departmental Reports have been revised to ensure a consistent (resource) basis because prior to 2002–03 reporting of the Research Councils' expenditure was on a cash (grant in aid) basis.
	(7) Outturn not available for 2001–02 due to a change in the budget structure, so a 'working provision' is provided. Excludes "Office of Science and Technology" expenditure on space (except for 2003–04 plans, which include BNSC budgets transferring to the Science budget from 2003–04).
	(8) Covers expenditure on Small Businesses and Enterprise (Small Business Service).
	(9) Expenditure shown for the Competition Commission and (from 2003–04) the Competition Service.
	Source:
	1999–2003 Departmental Reports (Cm 4211, March 1999; Cm 4611, April 2000; Cm 5112, March 2001; Cm 5416, June 2002; and Cm 5916, May 2003).

Departmental Staff

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry pursuant to the answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, columns 642–43W, to the hon. Member for Twickenham (Dr. Cable) if she will break down the staff in each grade by (a) regional and (b) national locations; and what percentage of the staff in each grade each represents.

Patricia Hewitt: This information is not held centrally and therefore this information cannot be provided without disproportionate cost.

EU Structural Funds

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what (a) capital and (b) revenue expenditure was provided through (i) EU structural funds and (ii) by regional development agencies in each of the past seven years for each principal town in England and Wales, with figures for Welsh Seaside Town clusters disaggregated; and if she will make a statement.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The information requested is not held either centrally or regionally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

EU Trade

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations she has made to European commissioners on the strengthening of multilateral trading systems; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: I have spoken on several occasions to Commissioner Lamy on the need to strengthen the multilateral trading system, particularly in favour of the world's poorest countries.
	Since the WTO Ministerial meeting in Cancun last September, I have met Mr. Lamy in London and in Brussels and I have also spoken to him on the telephone on a number of occasions. The strengthening of the multilateral trading system is always high on our agenda.
	My officials remain in regular contact with the Commission, on issues relating to the WTO and the strengthening of the WTO multilateral trading system.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the Export Credits Guarantee Department has been approached for political risk insurance claims by (a) ANZ Bank, (b) Standard Chartered Bank and (c) ABN Amro in relation to the Dabhol Power Company in India.

Mike O'Brien: Yes.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether (a) Kier International and (b) Whessoe have approached the Export Credits Guarantee Department for a claim in relation to the Dabhol Power Project in India.

Mike O'Brien: No. We can find no record of such an approach.

Export Credits Guarantee Department

James Arbuthnot: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Export Credits Guarantee Department will next produce a report on the comparison of export credit agencies; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 24 February 2004
	ECGD is currently updating its research on the comparison of export credit agencies and hopes to be able to make its findings public in April.

Gas Network System

David Stewart: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry 
	(1)  what plans she has to work with industry to extend the gas network system;
	(2)  if she will make a statement on the use made of European structural funds in the extension of the gas network across the UK.

Stephen Timms: In May 2003, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry announced the establishment of a new Design and Demonstration Unit of private sector secondees to support the Sustainable Energy Policy Network. Among the activities being undertaken by the Unit, which is based in the Department of Trade and Industry, are pathfinder projects to extend the gas network to non-gas areas. The first of these, in Llay in North Wales, began in October 2003, and is now completed. Three other projects are currently in the process of being developed. In addition, during 2003, the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets reviewed the charging arrangements for connections to independent gas transporters' (IGTs) networks. It is expected that, by allowing those providing connections to the existing network (known as "infill" projects) to charge a premium over Transco transportation charges, more IGTs will be encouraged to enter the infill market. Detailed information on the use of structural funds for individual projects is not held centrally by DTI. However, if my hon. Friend wishes to have information about a particular project, he should write to me, and I shall endeavour to obtain the relevant information. The Design and Demonstration Unit will be exploring whether the funds can provide support for the pathfinder projects that it is developing.

Near Earth Objects

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on the Government's contribution to the funding of the Minor Planet Centre.

Patricia Hewitt: The Government are not contributing to the funding of the US based Minor Planet Centre (MPC).

Near Earth Objects

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans she has to establish a British centre for near earth objects; and if she will make a statement.

Patricia Hewitt: The British National Space Centre has provided funding for the UK Near Earth Objects Information Centre (NEO IC) in Leicester (see www.nearearthobiects.co.uk). There are no current plans to extend the scope of the Centre.

Near Earth Objects

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in seeking partners to build in the southern hemisphere an advanced new three metre-class survey telescope for surveying substantially smaller objects than those now systematically observed by other telescopes.

Patricia Hewitt: There are no plans to build a new 3m class telescope for this activity. This conclusion is reached in the light of the many opportunities that are now available for the use of existing facilities that are or will soon become available.

Near Earth Objects

Lembit �pik: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if she will make a statement on progress in dedicating the one metre Johannes Kapteyn Telescope on La Palma to follow-up observations of near earth objects.

Patricia Hewitt: It has not been possible to fund dedicated use of the Johannes Kapteyn Telescope. However, telescopes on La Palma have been used to observe Near Earth Objects and 20 per cent. of these were studied spectroscopically.

Regional Selective Assistance

Simon Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many businesses in (a) London and (b) England applied for regional selective assistance in each year since it came into existence.

Jacqui Smith: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The number of value of applications for Regional Selective Assistance made in London and England since 1972 are published in the Industrial Development Act 1982 Annual Reports, copies of which are in the Libraries of the House.

Sakhalin

Peter Ainsworth: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what account she will take of the potential impact on endangered grey whales in considering requests for export credit guarantees in connection with oil and gas extraction in the Sakhalin Island area; and if she will make a statement.

Mike O'Brien: holding answer 23 February 2004
	The Government are aware of the potential impacts that the Sakhalin II project may have on the Western Gray Whales. I have written to Sakhalin Energy making clear the importance that we attach to ensuring that these are properly minimised and that the best scientific advice is being followed. In determining this, ECGD officials will be taking advice from recognised independent whale experts and will take into account the views of interested NGOs.
	I expect that details of the whale protection measures agreed with Sakhalin Energy will be published and that compliance with them would be a contractual obligation on the company. Qualified consultants would monitor compliance with these obligations on behalf of ECGD and the other lenders, should support be eventually agreed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme

Mark Todd: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister pursuant to his answer of 5 January 2004, Official Report, column 142W, on the Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme, whether the scheme requires its members to install lintels above windows.

Phil Hope: The Fenestration Self-assessment Scheme requires that all work carried out by its members should comply fully with the Building Regulations. Where the installation of lintels is necessary for such compliance then FENSA members should install them.

Retail Stores (Extensions)

Matthew Green: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when his Department will complete its research into the extent to which retailers are using internal extensions to expand their stores without planning permission; and if he will place a copy of the results in the Library.

Keith Hill: A survey of a sample of local planning authorities has been commissioned through the Government Offices to assess the extent of the issue and the possible consequences. While advanced, this work is not yet complete in a format which would enable it to be published, but the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister hopes to be in a position to make the findings public in due course.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Incapacity Benefit

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what percentage of the population of England and Wales was claiming Incapacity Benefit on the latest date for which figures are available; (a) how many people in and (b) what percentage of the population of each ward in each principal seaside town in England and Wales receive Incapacity Benefit, listed in descending order, with figures for Welsh seaside town clusters disaggregated; and if he will make a statement.

Maria Eagle: There were 2,378,900 people claiming Incapacity Benefit (including Severe Disablement Allowance) in England and Wales as of 31 August 2003. This accounts for 5.7 per cent. of the population over 16-years-old.
	The available information has been placed in the Library.
	Source:
	DWP Information Centre, 5 per cent. sample.

Jobcentre Plus

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost is of running two systems side by side during the Jobcentre Plus rollout in (a) Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and (b) the South East region.

Chris Pond: The administration of Jobcentre Plus is a matter for the Chief Executive of the Jobcentre Plus, David Anderson. He will write to the hon. Member.
	Letter from David Anderson to Mr. Hancock, dated 25 February 2004
	As Jobcentre Plus is an Executive Agency, the Secretary of State has asked me to reply direct to your question concerning the cost implications of running two systems side by side during the rollout of Jobcentre Plus, in the South East. This is something that falls within the responsibilities delegated to me as Chief Executive of Jobcentre Plus.
	The development of Jobcentre Plus is building on the high quality service already provided by social security offices and Jobcentres by delivering a single, integrated service to all people of working age, with a clear focus on work. It is a huge undertaking involving some 1,500 offices across the country. We have to make sure that our customers can continue to receive advice on work and benefits. Therefore we need to stagger the roll-out of the new service over a number of years. Throughout the period of national roll-out social security offices and Jobcentres will be working together to ensure that customers will still benefit from the excellent service we offer.
	Our plans for the roll out aim to ensure that the old services are replaced by the new services and that therefore there is no need to operate them side by side in any location. In fact as the roll out progresses we are looking to rationalise our estate and realise savings through a merger dividend.
	This is one of the largest change programmes ever and given its size, we are bringing in changes across the four-year period 200206. This means, of course, within the South East region and the other regions/countries, we will have to run new services alongside old style services for this transitional period.
	Full details of the financial allocation for the roll out of Jobcentre Plus are available in the Departmental report (CM5921) a copy of which is in the library.
	I hope this is helpful.

Medical Assessments

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many doctors have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of the Department revoked in each of the last five years, broken down by location.

Maria Eagle: The information requested has been recorded only since 2002, following enhancements to Medical Services' Medical Skills Database and the introduction of a new database in the Chief Medical Adviser's office. The available information is in the table.
	
		Numbers of doctors who have had approval to carry out assessments on behalf of DWP revoked
		
			 Medical Services Unit 2002 2003 
		
		
			 Birmingham 0 1 
			 Bootle 10 0 
			 Bristol 1 0 
			 Cardiff 5 1 
			 Edinburgh 0 0 
			 Glasgow 2 19 
			 Leeds 7 4 
			 Manchester 0 0 
			 Newcastle 0 1 
			 Nottingham 0 0 
			 Sutton 0 0 
			 Wembley 0 14 
			 Total 25 40 
		
	
	Source:
	DWP data.

Pensioner Benefits

George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his estimate is of the proportion of the value of means-tested benefits unclaimed by pensioners.

Malcolm Wicks: Precise information requested is not available. The DWP report, Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up, contains estimates of the additional amount of income support/minimum income guarantee, housing benefit and council tax benefit payable, if every pensioner took up their entitlement. For financial year 200001, the latest year for which information is available, it is estimated between 1.03 billion and 1.8 billion of these benefits were left unclaimed by the eligible GB pensioner population in private households. This compares with 7.70 billion claimed by this population; and represents between 81 per cent. and 88 per cent. of the total of amounts claimed and amounts unclaimed.
	The next edition of the report, covering 200102 will be published on 26 February; copies will be held in the Library.
	Note:
	Estimates of the amount of income-related benefits unclaimed are presented as ranges in which the true value is judged to lie. The ranges take account of various imperfections in the underlying data sources.

Statutory Sick Pay

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the total cost to his Department of payments to employers in respect of statutory sick pay was in each of the last five years.

Maria Eagle: The Statutory Sick Pay (SSP) scheme is administered by employers as part of the National Insurance scheme. While employers meet most of the costs of SSP, they can, in certain circumstances, reclaim some of their costs from the Department.
	The available information is in the table.
	
		Estimated cost to the Department of payments to employers in respect of Statutory Sick Pay in the last five years
		
			 Financial year Expenditure on SSP for DWP ( million) 
		
		
			 199899 30 
			 19992000 32 
			 200001 31 
			 200102 33 
			 200203 32 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information is in real terms, 200304 prices and rounded to the nearest 1 million.
	2. Data for recoveries on SSP are currently under review and all published figures are therefore subject to revision.
	Source:
	DWP reports and accounts.

HEALTH

Allergies

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what action he is taking with respect to those suffering from allergies; and if he will make a statement.

Stephen Ladyman: It is the role of primary care trusts in partnership with local stakeholders to decide what services to provide for their populations, including those with allergies. They are best placed to understand local health care needs and commission services to meet them.
	The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published their report, Allergythe unmet need: a blueprint for better patient care, on 25 June 2003. We welcome the RCP report and believes it is a useful contribution to the debate on how to improve national health service allergy services.
	The Food Standards Agency funds research on food allergy and intolerance, with particular emphasis on severe allergies, how they occur and what causes them. A large programme of research on food intolerance and allergy, costing around 1 million a year is on-going. King's College London is leading a 2.1 million European Community funded prospective study of the incidence and prognosis of allergy, allergic disease and low lung function in adults living in Europe. Also, the University of Manchester is leading a 1.2 million EC-funded investigation of the prevalence, pathogenesis, treatment and prevention of sun allergy across Europe. Sun-provoked skin reactions are one of the commonest forms of allergy.

Brachytherapy Treatment

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer, 16 December 2003, Official Report, column 877W, to the hon. Member for Christchurch (Mr. Chope), on brachytherapy treatment, by what date the Department will have decided whether the treatment referred to is a suitable topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence as a technology appraisal.

Melanie Johnson: It is not yet possible to say when the Department will be in a position to consider brachytherapy for the treatment of prostate cancer as a potential topic for referral to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) as a technology appraisal.
	More evidence on the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of brachytherapy in the treatment of prostate cancer will be needed for the Department to be able to consider its referral to NICE. It is not yet known when current studies are likely to produce such evidence.

Carbonated Drinks

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on the dangers to young people's health of regularly drinking carbonated soft drinks.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 23 February 2004
	Carbonated soft drinks are a major source of added sugars in children's and young people's diets. It is recommended that they should be consumed sparingly, as part of a healthy balanced diet, to minimise the effect of dental caries and to achieve calorie intake compatible with maintenance of healthy weight.
	The Food Standards Agency and the Department of Health are in discussion with the vending industry and are taking forward projects to consider approaches in schools to achieve this recommendation.

Child Health Surveillance Programme

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what percentage of (a) 8-year-olds, (b) 9-year-olds, (c) 10-year-olds, (d) 11-year-olds, (e) 5-year-olds, (f) 6-year-olds and (g) 7-year-olds were subject to height and weight monitoring in schools last year as part of the Child Health Surveillance programme;
	(2)  which primary care trusts undertake weight and height monitoring of primary school age children at least every other year.

Stephen Ladyman: Height and weight measurements in early childhood form a part of the child health surveillance programme. The programme covers pre-school age children. Intervals between checks are determined by the primary health care team in the light of professional judgment. Height and weight monitoring after school entry is undertaken on a selective basis when there is concern about a child's health or growth. Information on the number and timing of these checks is not collected centrally.

Child Poverty

Barbara Roche: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps his Department is taking to achieve the Government's targets of (a) ending child poverty by 2020, (b) halving it by 2010 and (c) reducing it by a quarter by 200405; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Work and Pensions (Mr. Pond) on 12 February 2004, Official Report, columns 159091W.

Chiropody

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  in what ways eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting lists have changed in the last two years; and how many patients have been removed from waiting lists as a result of changes in eligibility criteria;
	(2)  how many patients who were previously on chiropody waiting lists have been removed from these lists as a result of a change in the eligibility criteria for the waiting lists;
	(3)  how the eligibility criteria for chiropody waiting lists have changed in the last two years.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answers 23 and 24 February 2004
	Primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, have the responsibility for improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including setting eligibility criteria for chiropody/podiatry services. Information on waiting lists for these services is not collected centrally.

Coronary Care

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary angioplasties were undertaken by each NHS hospital trust in each of the last three years; and how many of these were (a) second and (b) third interventions.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of coronary angioplasties that were undertaken by each national health service hospital trust in each of the last three years has been placed in the Library.
	The figures are sourced from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health. Information on second and third interventions is not available.

Coronary Care

Malcolm Moss: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many coronary artery bypass graphs were undertaken by each NHS hospital trust in each of the last three years.

Melanie Johnson: Information on the number of coronary artery bypass graphs that were undertaken by each national health service hospital trust in each of the last three years has been placed in the Library.
	The figures are sourced from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES), Department of Health.

Haemophilia

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many patients with haemophilia there are in (a) England and (b) the South West; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: Information provided by the United Kingdom Haemophilia Centre Doctors Organisation shows that there are 5,019 haemophilia patients in England and 297 patients in the South West. These figures include patients affected by severe and mild haemophilia.

Hepatitis C

Andrew Murrison: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rationale was for the decision to disallow compensation from the Hepatitis C ex gratia scheme for the dependants of those who died of the disease prior to 29 August 2003.

Melanie Johnson: The underlying principle behind the Hepatitis C ex gratia payment scheme is to target available resources to help alleviate the suffering of people living with the virus. The payments are not designed to compensate for bereavement. The scheme's eligibility criteria reflect this, but were considered in the context of other demands on the health care budget.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 20 January 2004, Official Report, column 1110W, on long-term care, whether the methodology used to arrive at this figure is the same as that used to cost the Government's own policies; and if he will place in the Library a copy of the terms of reference given to the civil servants costing the policy.

Stephen Ladyman: The estimate of 1.5 billion is an updated estimate of the cost of free personal care for England. The methodology used to produce this updated estimate was identical to that used by the Royal Commission, except for two differences. The first difference is that the Royal Commission did not include an explicit allowance for costs of publicly funded care home residents. These costs are now estimated at 100 million and are included in the updated estimate. The second difference is that the updated estimate takes into account changes to the funding arrangements made by the Government since the Royal Commission produced its estimate. Had no account been taken, the updated estimate would have been higher. The main change is the implementation of free nursing care. Ministers gave no instructions or terms of references to civil servants concerning how the calculation of the updated estimate was to be made.

Long-term Care

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to the answer of 30 January 2004, Official Report, column 559W, on long-term care, which specific benefits are referred to in point seven of the explanatory note; how the savings of under 200 million were calculated; and whether any of the 58,000 privately funded residents of residential care homes mentioned in the explanatory note were in homes with dual registration, and therefore entitled to free nursing care.

Stephen Ladyman: The social security benefits referred to in point seven of the note are attendance allowance and disability living allowance care component. These benefits cease to be paid after four weeks of local authority support. Disability living allowance mobility component does not cease to be paid and is not included.
	Estimates of the proportions of older privately funded admissions to care homes receiving these benefits were derived from tables 4.13 and 4.14 of the Personal Social Services Research Unit report, Self-Funded Admissions to Care Homes (available at www. dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rrep159.asp). These proportions were applied to the estimate numbers of privately funded care home residents to produce an estimate of the numbers of privately funded residents receiving these benefits. The estimated numbers were multiplied by the benefit rates to produce an estimated annual saving of under 200 million.
	The approach assumed estimates of 42,000 privately funded residents in nursing beds in nursing homes or dual-registered homes and 58,000 privately funded residents in residential beds in residential care homes or dual-registered homes. Reference to dual-registered beds was omitted from the note for simplicity. This means that none of the estimated 58,000 were assumed to be entitled to free nursing care. This assumption does not, however, affect the estimated saving on disability benefits since receipt of free nursing care does not trigger cessation of disability benefits.

Masts

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines, other than International Commission Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection emission levels, are used by (a) the Health and Safety Executive and (b) OFCOM for the practical implementation of a precautionary approach to mast installations around sensitive sites.

Melanie Johnson: The International Commission on Non-Ionizing Protection (ICNIRP) guidelines is concerned with exposure to electromagnetic fields. The mobile phone industry has voluntarily agreed, as a precautionary measure, to comply with ICNIRP guidelines. The Government have also agreed that mobile telecommunications equipment should meet the ICNIRP guidelines as expressed in the European Union Council Recommendation on the limitation of exposure of the general public to electromagnetic fields (0Hz-300Ghz) of 12 July 1999. No Government body uses any other more restrictive exposure guidelines.

Medical Research (Animals)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health pursuant to his answer of 2 February 2004, Official Report, column 1129W, on medical research (animals), how much the Government contributed to the 2002 MORI poll.

Melanie Johnson: The Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Home Office each contributed 28,502 towards the cost of the research.

Mental Health

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress has been made on the National Institute for Clinical Excellence guidance on recommended procedures for control and restraint of mental health patients.

Rosie Winterton: The anticipated publication date for the National Institute for Clinical Excellence's (NICE) clinical guideline on the short-term management of disturbed (violent) behaviour in in-patient psychiatric settings is November 2004. NICE provisionally plans to consult on the first draft of the guidance in April 2004. Full details of the provisional schedule for this guideline can be found on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk.

MMR

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many children aged between five and 15 years developed (a) measles, (b) mumps and (c) rubella in each of the last 10 years.

Melanie Johnson: Data on comparable confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella are only available from 1995. The number of confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella between 1995 and 2003 are shown in the table. The information provided relates to the number of confirmed cases of measles, mumps and rubella in children aged between five and 14 years. Data on cases in children aged between 5 and 14 years is being provided, as this is the standard age grouping used in all surveillance reports.
	
		Number of cases aged 514 years
		
			  Measles Mumps Rubella 
		
		
			 1995 5 14 29 
			 1996 14 56 31 
			 1997 91 100 2 
			 1998 12 34 5 
			 1999 20 229 5 
			 2000 23 472 4 
			 2001 15 419 1 
			 2002 88 130 5 
			 2003(10) 164 248 0 
		
	
	(10) Provisional.
	Sources:
	19962002 Health Protection Agency website:
	http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/measles/data reg age.htm
	http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/mumps/data reg age.htm
	http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics az/rubella/data reg age.htm

Obesity-related Deaths

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what methodology his Department used to estimate the number of deaths from obesity-related diseases; and if he will make a statement.

Melanie Johnson: The Department uses estimates presented in the National Audit Office report on obesity: Tackling Obesity in Englandreport by the Comptroller and Auditor General. HC220 Session 200001: 15 February 2001.

Podiatry

John Baron: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will collect a sample of the discharge rates, whether complete or not, of NHS podiatry services, to enable the Government to estimate how many patients could reasonably be accepted into NHS foot care services.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 23 February 2004
	National health service foot care services are provided on the basis of assessed clinical need. Primary care trusts, in partnership with strategic health authorities and other local stakeholders, have the responsibility for improving the health of the community, securing the provision of high quality services, and integrating health and social care locally. They have the resources to commission services, and to identify the number of professional staff that they need to deliver those services. This process provides the means for addressing local needs within the health community including the provision of chiropody/podiatry services.
	We are committed to reducing bureaucracy in the NHS and commissioning such a study would not be cost effective.

Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Helen Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases was in the areas covered by (a) the Greater Peterborough Primary Care Trust and (b) the Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire Strategic Health Authority in the last year for which figures are available, broken down by (i) HIV, (ii) Chlamydia, (iii) gonorrhoea, (iv) syphilis and (v) genital herpes; how many cases of each disease there were in the (A) under 19, (B) 20 to 25, (C) 25 to 35 and (D) 35 plus age group, broken down by gender; and what the percentage change was in each case in each of the previous five years.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally. However the available information from the Health Protection Agency has been placed in the Library.
	The data contained within these tables does not represent the prevalence of disease within this individual strategic health authority.

Soft Drinks (Schools)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has made to the United Kingdom soft drinks industry about distribution of soft drinks in schools.

Melanie Johnson: holding answer 23 February 2004
	No direct representations to the United Kingdom soft drinks industry about distribution of soft drinks in schools have been made.
	The Department of Health-led strand of the Food in Schools programme comprises eight pilot projects, which aim to ensure children have access to healthy food choices and drinks throughout the school day. In particular, the work on water provision aims to increase overall consumption of water by pupils in schools by making it more accessible. The healthier vending machines pilot challenges schools and the vending industry to make healthy options available in school vending machines, which includes the provision of healthier drink products.
	The results of all eight pilot projects will be brought together in a 'whole school approach' and made available to schools across England from the beginning of 2005 to assist them in providing a wider range of healthier foods and drinks for pupils.
	The Food Standards Agency has undertaken a pilot in schools on healthier drink vending, which will feed into the Food in Schools programme.

SPIRIT Trial

Patsy Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  by what date the National Cancer Research Network expects to have all 300 patients recruited for the SPIRIT trial;
	(2)  what the status is of the SPIRIT trial into a cure for prostate cancer;
	(3)  how many centres have been approved to enter patients in the SPIRIT trial; and when they will be receiving patients.

Melanie Johnson: The SPIRIT trial received multi-centre research ethics committee approval in November 2003. Local research ethics committee approval is currently being applied for at the various centres that plan to participate. The trial is led by the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG). Any centre that wishes to participate must obtain United States federal-wide assurance, and investigators and research nurses must obtain membership of the ACOSOG. The trial team anticipates that six to eight centres in the United Kingdom will be approved by summer 2004, and that these centres will immediately start entering patients into the trial. The team is confident that 300 UK patients will be recruited before May 2007, which is the US target for completing accrual.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make a statement on plans to close general practitioner surgeries in (a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton in Tendring Primary Care Trust.

Stephen Ladyman: It is this Government's policy, within the framework set out in the NHS Plan and the Shifting the Balance of Power initiative, to devolve funding decisions to the front line. It is now for primary care trusts (PCTs), in partnership with health authorities and other local stakeholders, to determine how best to use their funds to meet national and local priorities for improving health, tackling health inequalities and modernising services, based on the specialised knowledge they have of the local community.
	The Colchester and Tendring Local Improvement Finance Trust project board is committed to significantly improve services and facilities in the area. Tendring PCTs plan is to develop one purpose-built health centre that will incorporate four local surgeries on one site in the local areas. Therefore, the surgeries are not being closed but re-sited.
	The proposal is to centralise services on the Kennedy Way site with two satellite surgeries; one in Holland-on-Sea and the other in Great Clacton. The distance from the existing practices to the proposed new centre is approximately one mile. The satellite facilities will provide services to those patients who are unable to travel.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what consultation has been undertaken by Tendring Primary Care Trust regarding the proposed closure of general practitioner surgeries in Holland-on-Sea.

Stephen Ladyman: I am advised that Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) extended its original consultation period so that it ran from mid January 2003 to mid March 2003 in order for option appraisals to be undertaken. Public consultation meetings were held, consultation documents were circulated, an appraisal workshop was also held and the PCT corresponded with the public and local councillors.
	The PCT held an option appraisal day, which was attended by member of the public, resident associations, the Community Health Council and health professionals. The outcome of the option appraisal day was unanimous support for developing the Kennedy Way site.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust for its new headquarters;
	(2)  what sites were considered by Tendring Primary Care Trust to replace general practitioner surgeries due to be closed in (a) Holland-on-Sea and (b) Great Clacton.

Stephen Ladyman: Tendring Primary Care Trust, in partnership with Tendring District Council and local estate agents, undertook an exhaustive search for a site best befitting the necessary criteria for a new health centre. The key criteria were:
	The site needs to be large enough for the proposed health centre, which means it has to be 1.25 acres.
	The site needs to be central within the Holland-on-Sea/Great Clacton area.
	The site needs to be available for immediate purchase.
	The site needs to be allocated for development within the local plan.
	Kennedy Way was chosen as the preferred option.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the estimated cost is of the new surgery general practitioners centre in Kennedy Way, Clacton-on-Sea; and what proportion of the site will be occupied by primary care trust administration.

Stephen Ladyman: Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) is currently consulting staff, local councillors and residents' representatives on the range of services to be provided from the centre.
	The PCT's current estimated figure is 7 million for the health centre and PCT headquarters which it is currently estimated to be split as, 5 million for the health centre and 2 million for the PCT headquarters (these figures are subject to change according to the final service model adopted). The premises will then be leased through the Local Improvement Finance Trust over a 20 year period.
	In addition to general practice, additional services will be available from the new site. These are shown in the table. However, until the range of services to be offered is agreed and costed, the PCT is at present unable to define what proportion of the accommodation will be given over to PCT administration. However, the PCT estimates that the large majority of accommodation will be for healthcare provision.
	
		Clacton and Holland-on-Sea
		
			 Service cluster Includes: 
		
		
			 Central Clinical Services Security 
			 Essential Clinical Services General Practitioner services 
			  Nurse Practitioner services 
			 Nurse Led Services Chronic disease management 
			  Health promotion (expand family planning and sexual heath, diagnosticsvisiting GP) 
			  Special provision for teenagers 
			  Vaccinations and immunisations 
			  Contraception 
			  Child Health 
			  Cervical Cytology 
			 Chronic Disease Management Diabetic services (more multidisciplinary team) 
			  Chiropody 
			  Eye 
			  Dietetics 
			  Podiatry 
			  COPD/Asthma 
			  Chromic management eye Diseases 
			  Optometry (multidisciplinary) 
			  Coronary Heart Disease 
			  Hypertension 
			  Diabetes 
			  Diabetic Retinopathy Screening 
			  Heart Failure Assessment 
			 Diagnostics Warfarin  DVT Monitoring 
			  One stop near patient testing 
			  Visiting echo 
			  Ultrasound 
			  Osteoporosis assessment 
			  Blood tests/phlebotomy 
			  ECG 
			  Future possibility of X-ray and Ultrasound  
			  (PACS) 
			 Health Promotion Prevention has close links with rehabilitation 
			  Smoking Cessation 
			  Teenage Advisory Clinic 
			  Information Zone 
			 Rehabilitation Services Post discharge stroke 
			  Musculo-skeletal assessment 
			  Falls Prevention 
			  Cardiac rehabilitation 
			  Heart Failure rehabilitation 
			  Musculo-skeletal clinic 
			 District Nursing Service Leg ulcer clinics (dermatology, vascular, district nurses) 
			  Community paramedics 
			  District Nurse Base 
			  Leg Ulcer Clinic 
			  Continence Clinic 
			  Equipment Store 
			 Health Visiting Service Health Visitor base 
			 Mental Health Services Substance misuse 
			  Community Psychiatric Services 
			  Child and Family Consultation Service 
			  CMHT 
			  Memory clinic 
			  Counselling 
			 Social Services Vulnerable adults 
			  Child Protection 
			  Social Worker Base 
			  Care Advisor service 
			 Voluntary Sector Shared resources 
			  Advisory Clinics 
			 Outpatient Service Ophthalmology 
			  Explore paediatric outreach 
			  Dermatology 
			  Neurology Outpatients 
			  Dermatology outpatients 
			  Care of the Elderly Outpatients 
			  Urology 
			 Community Dental Services Community Dental Services 
			 Audiology Hearing Tests 
			  Hearing Aid Clinic 
			 Podiatry/chiropody Podiatry/chiropody 
			 Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) Base for PALs service 
			 Dispensary/pharmacy Integration 
			 Caf Caf 
			 Children's Services Paediatric child health 
			  Occupational Therapy 
			  Physiotherapy 
			  Speech and language 
			  School nursing 
			  Disability nursing 
			  Children's outreach 
			  Children's continence services 
			  Nursery services 
			  Child protection

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the recommendation of Tendring Community Health Council was in the consultation on (a) moving the Primary Care Trust headquarters and (b) closing (i) Frinton Road Medical Centre and (ii) the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery.

Stephen Ladyman: This information is not collected centrally.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans there are to close further general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust area after the proposed closure of Frinton Road Medical Centre and the Grove Lodge general practitioner surgery.

Stephen Ladyman: We have no plans to close general practitioner surgeries in the Tendring Primary Care Trust (PCT) area.
	However, we are advised that Tendring PCT states that these practices are not closing but relocating to a new purpose-built facility with a wider range of services being offered under the national health service Local Improvement Finance Trust.
	The local NHS has no plans to close practices in Tendring; and 75 per cent. of practices have been expanded with additional doctors and nurses, using personal medical services growth money.

Tendring Primary Care Trust

Tim Loughton: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what funds are being provided by Tendring Primary Care Trust to transport residents of Holland-on-Sea to the new Kennedy Way general practitioner surgery in Clacton-on-Sea; and for what period this funding is assured.

Stephen Ladyman: I am advised by Tendring Primary Care Trust that funding for transporting residents is currently under review.

UK Medicines (Name Changes)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the timetable is for implementing the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency awareness campaign for nurses about the recent name changes to UK medicines; and if he will make a statement.

Rosie Winterton: The names of some medicinal substances are changing in the United Kingdom so that British approved names reflect recommended International non-proprietary names, where these currently differ. This action is being taken on the advice of the Medicines Commission and with the support of a wide range of interest groups. It will reduce the risk of confusion on the part of both healthcare professionals and patients arising from the availability on the market of some medicines using two different names.
	The name changes were published in the 2003 edition of the British Pharmacopoeia and became effective on 1 December 2003. From this date, licence holders for medicinal products using the old names were given 12 months to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency to update their licences to use the new names.
	We are committed to ensuring that all those who are responsible for prescribing, dispensing and administering medicines receive full information about the name changes and expect shortly to be in a position to issue detailed guidance and advice to healthcare professionals, including nurses.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Saville Inquiry

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland 
	(1)  what the latest estimate is of the cost of the Saville Inquiry;
	(2)  which Departments will meet the costs of the Saville Inquiry; and in what proportion.

John Spellar: The latest figure available to the end of December 2003 for the cost of the Inquiry is a total of 129.9 million. 103.7 million (80 per cent. of the total) of this falls to the Northern Ireland Office and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence advises me that his Department to the end of December 2003 has spent 26.2 million (20 per cent. of the total).
	The Departments which have incurred directs costs in connection with the Bloody Sunday Inquiry are the Northern Ireland Office and the Ministry of Defence. The small amount of expenditure by a number of other Departments is de minimis.

Saville Inquiry

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many lawyers have been employed during the course of the Saville Inquiry; and what the latest estimate of the costs of employing lawyers during the inquiry is.

John Spellar: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for East Londonderry (Mr. Campbell) on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 544W and the follow-up letter I wrote on 11 February, the text of which is set out as follows.
	Letter from John Spellar to Mr. Gregory Campbell on 11 February 2004
	Further to the part reply I gave to your recent written parliamentary question on 12 January 2004, Official Report, column 544W, I am now able to provide the detailed information you requested about payments made to each of the legal firms involved in the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. These payments include VAT and other disbursements where appropriate and so do not necessarily represent the amounts received by individuals.
	The following table provides the latest details of payments made by the Northern Ireland Office.
	
		
		
			 Period covered 
			  Payments made From To Note 
		
		
			  
			  
			 Counsel for the Inquiry 
			 Christopher Clarke 3,721,971 February 1998 January 2004  
			 Jacob Grierson 394,879 July 1998 December 2000 Left the case in December 2000 
			 Cathryn McGahey 1,078,130 June 2000 January 2004  
			 Bilal Rawat 842,701 June 2000 January 2004  
			 Alan Roxburgh 1,518,831 May 1998 January 2004  
			  
			  Solicitors employed for the taking of witness statements 
			 Eversheds 12,609,388 June 1998 August 2003  
			  
			  Senior Counsel representing the families(11) 
			 Lord Gifford 618,544 October 1998 September 2003  
			 Arthur Harvey 767,362 July 1998 January 2003  
			 Michael Lavery 549,880 November 2000 June 2003  
			 B J MacDonald 507,683 September 1998 December 2002 Left the case (as a junior) in September 2000 and rejoined the case (as a senior) in July 2001.  
			 P T MacDonald 65,800 April 1998 June 1999 Left the case June 1999 
			 Michael Mansfield 561,711 March 1999 July 2003  
			 Eilish McDermott 105,309 March 2000 June 2001  
			 Seamus Treacy 701,073 March 1998 April 2003 Having started as a junior in March 1998, became a senior counsel in September 2000 
			 Eoin McGonigal 82,446 October 2000 June 2002  
			 Kevin Finnegan 235,000 July 1998 May 2001 Left the case in May 2001 
			  
			 Senior Counsel representing NICRA 
			 Sir Louis Blom-Cooper 419,389 December 2000 July 2003 
			  Junior Counsel representing the families 
			 John Coyle 314,422 September 1999 February 2003  
			 Fiona Doherty 164,273 October 2000 October 2002  
			 Ciaran Harvey 472,145 December 2000 June 2003  
			 Richard Harvey 445,270 October 2000 July 2003  
			 Brian Kennedy 557,522 July 1999 March 2003  
			 Philip Magee 83,175 June 1998 September 2000 Left the case in September 2000 
			 Kieran Mallon Bl 626,791 March 1999 May 2003  
			 Brian McCartney 723,685 October 1998 November 2003  
			 Karen Quinlivan 290,193 March 1999 July 2003  
			 Patricia Smyth 328,719 October 1998 June 2002 Left the case in June 2002. 
			 Michael Topolski 139,940 November 2000 June-2001 Left the case in June 2001 
			 Mary McHugh 219,877 February 2002 April 2003  
			  
			 Junior counsel representing NICRA 
			 Paddy O'Hanlon 230,151 November 2000 October 2002  
			  
			 Solicitors representing the families(12) 
			  
			 Barr and Co 535,231 February 1999 September 2003  
			 Brendan Kearney and Co 787,027 July 1999 July 2003  
			 Desmond Doherty and Co 1,023,977 November 1998 November 2003 Figure does not include fees for September 2003 
			 MacDermott and McGurk 988,782 November 1998 November 2003  
			 Madden and Finucane 6,707,182 January 1998 October 2003  
			 McCann and McCann 573,912 October 1998 November 2003 Figure does not include fees for July 2003 
			 McCartney and Casey 1,001,358 November 1998 November 2003  
			  
			 Solicitors representing NICRA 
			 Francis Keenan 208,739 May 2000 June 2001  
			  
			  Legal representatives for other witnesses 
			 Various solicitors and counsel 2,539,645 April 1998 April 2003 Figure includes payments made to more than 60 other solicitors and counsel 
		
	
	(11) In addition the following senior counsel have represented/are representing some of the families but have yet to submit fee claims: Declan Morgan and Reg Weir.
	(12) Includes payments made in respect of witness statement-taking work
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence has advised me that the following payments have been made to counsel and solicitors in respect of work for the Bloody Sunday Inquiry by his Department.
	
		
		
			  Payments made 
		
		
			 Senior Counsel representing HM armed forces  
			 Edmund Lawson 694,303 
			 Edwin Glasgow 3,333,954 
			 Peter Clarke 884,991 
			 Sydney Kentridge 52,875 
			 Anna Worrall 100,457 
			 Gerard Elias 1,454,476 
			 Allan Green 1,280,323 
			 Rosamund Horwood Smart 343,589 
			 David Lloyd Jones 900,734 
			 Lan Burnett 218,431 
			 Philip Havers 7,138 
			   
			 Junior counsel representing MoD  
			 William Hoskins 8,621 
			   
			 Junior counsel representing HM armed forces  
			 Michael Hick 253,895 
			 Gaby Bonham Carter 186,395 
			 Kristian Mills 56,929 
			 Sam Grodzinski 1,877 
			 Alan May 299,009 
			 Andrew Hurst 457,469 
			 David Bradly 1,066,560 
			 Michael Bools 768,525 
			 Nicholas Griffin 1,043,690 
			 Thomas Quinton 328,121 
			 Huw Davies 279,496 
			 Nicholas Moss 779,350 
			 Ian Leist 779,202 
			 Alexander Milne 259,934 
			 Stephen Requena 88,161 
			 Bridget Petherbridge 25,953 
			 Pamela Morrison 76,199 
			   
			 Solicitors representing HM armed forces  
			 Devonshires 1,571,840 
			 Kingsley Napley 1,227,718 
			 Payne Hicks Beach 2,490,332 
			 Jacqueline Duff 149,593 
			 Treasury Solicitor 2,228,402 
		
	
	A copy of this letter has been placed in the Library.

Ministerial Travel

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when he last used a train in connection with his ministerial duties.

Paul Murphy: Within the UK, the method of transport used in the course of my official duties is determined by security advice from the police. Details are not disclosed for security reasons.

Obesity

Iris Robinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether there is a Northern Ireland-based strategy to address childhood and adult obesity; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: I refer the hon. Lady to the answer I gave on 23 February 2004, Official Report, column 166W.